Welcome to the forums! It's nice to have you with us!
I've read your post a couple of times now. I don't know what kind of advice to offer without seeing the tree. Could you post a picture for us? I'm not sure I'll have any answers even
with a pic, but some other member might.

"Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?" - Douglas Adams