[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[ceilklinger at cox.net]

85003
ceilklinger at cox.net

My shamel ash is 15-20 years with a thick trunk and tall and spreading limbs. Within the past 2 years  branches have begun to die & some eventually break and fall. I was told it was not getting enough water. It is planted in backyard covered with pea gravel. There are plants and an elm planted throughout the yard. All the plants have drip system that put out 2 gal. and run frequently. There are patios and walks of brick set in sand that cover the ground at the tree drip line. I have been letting a hose run at the drip line for many hours over a period of days every couple of weeks.
Tree located on the west side of yard and the west side gets the afternoon full blast.
 Branches of dried leaves are continuing to occur.  Since it will create a great loss of shade and totally disrupt the landscaping, I would like to do what I can to save the tree, if that is possible.