Q. I have a strawberry tree that is probably getting toomuch sun. The tips of the leaves are very discolored. Is there anything I can
do to help it?
A. Strawberry tree is native to Western Europe and the
Mediterranean region.
Mediterranean region.
Its leaves tend to yellow because of micronutrient
fertilizer problems, cold temperatures and intense sunlight. Leaves also tend
to scorch on the tips in very hot locations with intense sunlight. They do not
perform well in rock mulch in south or western exposures.
fertilizer problems, cold temperatures and intense sunlight. Leaves also tend
to scorch on the tips in very hot locations with intense sunlight. They do not
perform well in rock mulch in south or western exposures.
Getting this plant closer to
optimum health helps it tolerate stresses caused by extreme soil and
environmental conditions. Soil improvement and wood surface mulch will help
this plant a lot.
This plant should not be in rock
mulch. Rock mulches radiate a lot of heat during the summer and add nothing
back to the soil. If this plant is in rock mulch, I would pull the rock back a
couple of feet and apply an inch or two of compost.
mulch. Rock mulches radiate a lot of heat during the summer and add nothing
back to the soil. If this plant is in rock mulch, I would pull the rock back a
couple of feet and apply an inch or two of compost.
After lightly incorporating the
compost into the upper soil surface, I would cover the exposed area with about
3 to 4 inches of wood chips. The combination of compost and decomposing wood
chips will help to rebuild the soil around the roots. Rebuilding the soil
around the roots improves the biological activity of the soil and overall plant
health.
compost into the upper soil surface, I would cover the exposed area with about
3 to 4 inches of wood chips. The combination of compost and decomposing wood
chips will help to rebuild the soil around the roots. Rebuilding the soil
around the roots improves the biological activity of the soil and overall plant
health.
From your picture, the foliage
otherwise looks healthy except for its scorched leaf tips. I would guess it is
getting adequate amounts of fertilizer.
otherwise looks healthy except for its scorched leaf tips. I would guess it is
getting adequate amounts of fertilizer.
Applying fertilizers regularly
to desert soils is frequently not enough to provide a plant with optimum
health. Be sure to add an iron chelate such as EDDHA in a spring application of
fertilizer once a year. The combination of the right kind of fertilizer, soil
improvement and wood surface mulch will bring this plant closer to optimum
health and better tolerance for hot locations.
to desert soils is frequently not enough to provide a plant with optimum
health. Be sure to add an iron chelate such as EDDHA in a spring application of
fertilizer once a year. The combination of the right kind of fertilizer, soil
improvement and wood surface mulch will bring this plant closer to optimum
health and better tolerance for hot locations.