Q. I have 4 Bottle trees in my Phoenix-area yard facing
south. The largest looked fine 2 days ago with new leaf growth starting. Today all the leaves on it have turned completely crispy. Is it likely to recover or has it just
died? Makes me worried about the other 3
Bottle trees. Trees were planted June 2015.
south. The largest looked fine 2 days ago with new leaf growth starting. Today all the leaves on it have turned completely crispy. Is it likely to recover or has it just
died? Makes me worried about the other 3
Bottle trees. Trees were planted June 2015.
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| Bottle tree picture with similar problem from a previous question |
A. There was a piece of information I was looking
for but I didn’t see it. It’s pretty critical. If these are older trees, then
it is most likely something that recently happened like recent strong winds or
a spike in the temperature and they will recover just fine.
for but I didn’t see it. It’s pretty critical. If these are older trees, then
it is most likely something that recently happened like recent strong winds or
a spike in the temperature and they will recover just fine.
 |
| As long as there is good drainage these trees can survive and thrive in a lawn! |
If
these are newly planted trees then I am a little more concerned. My concern is
about watering. Bottle trees are notorious for having roots that are sensitive
to too much water remaining in the soil. This can be from watering too often or
poor drainage or both. Hopefully, these are older trees that have been in the
ground for a few years and they suddenly had leaf scorch and/or leaf drop and
they will recover just fine maintaining normal irrigation for this time of
year.
these are newly planted trees then I am a little more concerned. My concern is
about watering. Bottle trees are notorious for having roots that are sensitive
to too much water remaining in the soil. This can be from watering too often or
poor drainage or both. Hopefully, these are older trees that have been in the
ground for a few years and they suddenly had leaf scorch and/or leaf drop and
they will recover just fine maintaining normal irrigation for this time of
year.
If these are newly planted trees and you are
watering them frequently as they are getting established then I’m a little
worried. If they are recently planted and you are watering frequently, this can
cause roots to die from suffocation, keeping the soil to wet.
watering them frequently as they are getting established then I’m a little
worried. If they are recently planted and you are watering frequently, this can
cause roots to die from suffocation, keeping the soil to wet.
Make
sure the trees have good soil and water drainage around the roots. Water them
thoroughly once a week this time of year. Give them a good rest without any
water between irrigations.
sure the trees have good soil and water drainage around the roots. Water them
thoroughly once a week this time of year. Give them a good rest without any
water between irrigations.
Big
trees use and require more water than smaller trees so make sure that the
largest tree has been getting enough water each time you irrigate. The largest
tree should be getting more water than the smaller ones. If it doesn’t have
more emitters, you should consider adding more so that it gets more water.
trees use and require more water than smaller trees so make sure that the
largest tree has been getting enough water each time you irrigate. The largest
tree should be getting more water than the smaller ones. If it doesn’t have
more emitters, you should consider adding more so that it gets more water.
My sense is that
these are older and established trees and they will come back just fine if you
water them deeply but infrequently.