If it's still alive and shoots new sprouts from the bottom this spring, you should be able to cut off the damaged trunk and let the new shoot(s) grow into a new tree.

Prospects for success of any replacement shoots depend on what, specifically is affecting the existing stem.

Ask Us: Plants: University of Illinois Extension

It appears that, whatever the ailment is, it has occurred during more than one season, along with partial encapsulation after each episode.

Could be varmint damage, sun scald or something else, along the lines of a pathogen.

Looks like a combination of root girdling and sun scald. Clues to root girdling are the abnormal trunk flare and surface level roots. If you brush away the mulch, you might find the roots are encircling the tree, rather than growing laterally. It's usually a transplanting issue. Sun scald damage is preventable by wrapping trees over winter from the lowest branches downward. Tree guards can also prevent young trees from potential wildlife damage.

The roots do look a little funky.

Fess up...was this an end of season big box bargain?

Next time...hold the pot until proper planting time..bare root it...and then plant properly.. including root flare depth...

Dad once bought me one...and cut it to the ground twice to finally make a nice tree out of it...they are hard to kill...

Let's see if it buds out...or comes up from the roots in spring...and then decide what to do....

PP

I'd cut it down to the stump now. The damage is so bad that if it has a remaining bit of cambium connection to the top and tries to recover, it will snap in the first good wind after it puts any heavy growth on that trunk. That would happen a couple years down the road just when you think it is starting to look good. The only hope is to regrow the thing from the stump.

I wouldn’t waste valuable years growing this poor specimen of a tree. If it were mine, It would be gone and replaced with a healthy tree, properly planted and protected against weedeaters and varmints.

This was purchased last Spring and planted at that time. I’ll return it as soon as replacements are available