Question
Hi,
About nine months ago my mother bought three trees and had them planted in her yard.  A Chinese Elm and two Ficus trees.  I had been takeing care of them for her and she saw me mix some Miracle Grow and pour on them.  When I wasn't looking, she decieded it would be better to put it on full strength.  The Elm lived but the two ficus looked to be dead.  I faithfully watered them anyway.  Now, I have two dead sticks about six feet tall with what looks like a shrub growing from the base.  No doubt, these trees were not completely dead.  I have never grown any kind of tree before and have no idea what to do with this shrub looking thing.  Do I trim it to one main branch growing up or just let it fend for itself?  What is the norm on something like this?  Also, what am I supose to do with this six foot tall dead stick it is attached to?  If it matters, I live in Glendale Arizona where it is easily over 100 degrees every day.
Thank you,
Shirley

Answer
Shirley,

The full strength Miracle Gro caused an imbalance in the soil salts that led to the death of the upper portion of the ficus.  The bushy stuff are the ficus growing back from the crown of the tree.

I would remove the two ficus.  You do not want to mess with trying to train a new leader, trust me.  Many times we tend to put too much time in a lost cause with plants.  The ficus trees are lost causes.  

You will not want to plant in the same spot unless you remove some of the contaminated soil first.  

Good luck