Xtremehorticulture

Browning on Apple Tree Is Drought

Q. see (photo) my apple tree it is not in good condition, why? Can you tell me what I can do to help my tree?  A. Thanks for the picture it helped. That is leaf scorch and leaf scorch is caused by not enough water making it from the roots to the leaves during hot dry weather usually. A lack of water getting to the leaves can be caused by soil problems such as too much salt in the soil, a lack of water in the soil, root damage, damage to the trunk so it transports less water or damage to limbs which does the same thing.  When leaf scorch appears all through the tree canopy then we can pinpoint the trunk, roots or soil. In your particular case I think it is just a lack of water around the roots. The tree appears healthy otherwise. Take a hose and soak the area under the tree canopy with about 30 gallons of water. Repeat this again twice during the week.  The leaves which are already damaged will not recover. But any new leaves produced after you begin this new irrigation should come out without scorching.  If this is the case, you need to add more drip emitters around the tree or increase the number of minutes you water. Increasing the number of drip emitters is a better solution if everything else is getting the right amount of water.

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Geranium and Petunia Damage on the Rise

Q. I had a beautiful  Geranium plant with lots of flowers in a large pot that has a dripper. Now that the blooms have died all the leaves are turning brown and  have holes in them. What went wrong? If I cut the plant back, will it bloom again. A. Two things come to mind without looking at the plant, the soil or container. First of all, geraniums are cool weather plants and don’t like the heat. If they are going to survive during the heat they need to have an Eastern or northern exposure which is protected from late afternoon sun. They do best in bright locations that have filtered shade.  Secondly, this is the time of year we start to see flowers eliminated by tobacco budworm. Holes in the leaves are dead giveaway for tobacco budworm. Read more about it here. http://xtremehorticulture.blogspot.com/2015/07/holes-in-geranium-leaves-probably.html It is possible to cut them back, fertilize and water them and get them to regrow but you should spray for the tobacco budworm to protect the new blossoms. If you have petunias, they can attack them as well.

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