Q. I have a three-year-old
apricot tree in the southeast part of Las Vegas. For some reason, the leaves
have dried up (have the consistency of potato chips) and it appears to be
dying. It gets watered daily at 3:00 am for 2.5 hours with drip irrigation at 8
gallons per hour.
apricot tree in the southeast part of Las Vegas. For some reason, the leaves
have dried up (have the consistency of potato chips) and it appears to be
dying. It gets watered daily at 3:00 am for 2.5 hours with drip irrigation at 8
gallons per hour.
A. The problem may be daily watering if there is poor
drainage. If this is the problem, you should be able to push on the tree and
see if the bottom is loose in the soil or if the tree is very firmly anchored
and does not move.
drainage. If this is the problem, you should be able to push on the tree and
see if the bottom is loose in the soil or if the tree is very firmly anchored
and does not move.
If the base of the trunk moves as if it is not firmly
anchored then this is a root problem due to, most likely, watering too often.
If the soil is continuously wet it can promote root diseases that favor very
wet soils and tree roots that are weakened due to suffocation.
anchored then this is a root problem due to, most likely, watering too often.
If the soil is continuously wet it can promote root diseases that favor very
wet soils and tree roots that are weakened due to suffocation.
I would try to water every other to every third day but
give it more water when you do. You can give it more water by adding a couple
more emitters.
give it more water when you do. You can give it more water by adding a couple
more emitters.
Another method is to put some vertical holes in the soil
about two feet from the trunk to a depth of about two feet and backfilling
these holes with gravel to improve drainage. This is called vertical mulching.
You can use a posthole digger for this.
about two feet from the trunk to a depth of about two feet and backfilling
these holes with gravel to improve drainage. This is called vertical mulching.
You can use a posthole digger for this.
If this is not the case, then look at more exotic
possibilities such as weed killers applied to the soil or drifting into your
yard from your neighbor.
possibilities such as weed killers applied to the soil or drifting into your
yard from your neighbor.