Q. Our bottle tree branches are getting dried and one side of the branches died 2 years ago. I
am enclosing photos of the tree. Can you tell what is wrong with this tree? We
love this tree very much. Is there any way to keep the tree from dying?
am enclosing photos of the tree. Can you tell what is wrong with this tree? We
love this tree very much. Is there any way to keep the tree from dying?
 |
| Bottle tree with dying branches. |
A. There are two main problems that can develop on bottle
tree; those are sunscald on the smooth branches and trunk if put into very
intense sunlight and root death due to too much or too frequent watering.
tree; those are sunscald on the smooth branches and trunk if put into very
intense sunlight and root death due to too much or too frequent watering.
 |
| Trunk of bottle tree |
We must
also remember that their smooth green trunk and limbs get brown and furrowed
with age so there is a natural progression from green and smooth to brown and
furrowed. This must not be confused with brown and dead or dying.
Some of
the pictures you sent seems to show much of the dead parts of the limbs are on
the upper surfaces of the limbs which kind of points to sunburning. This can
lead to limb dieback.
the pictures you sent seems to show much of the dead parts of the limbs are on
the upper surfaces of the limbs which kind of points to sunburning. This can
lead to limb dieback.
 |
| Upper canopy of bottle tree. |
It is
important for this tree to maintain a full canopy to shade the limbs. Most of
this type of damage might be on the side facing the most intense sunlight which
is on the upper sides of limbs particularly on the south and west sides of the
tree. If someone got in there and pruned them improperly this could cause a
lack of shading and sunburn with limb dieback.
The
other possibility is root rots due to frequent irrigations and not letting the
soil dry out between irrigations. This plant comes from semi-arid (but not
necessarily desert) regions of Australia. They will tolerate lawns but the soil
must drain quickly.
other possibility is root rots due to frequent irrigations and not letting the
soil dry out between irrigations. This plant comes from semi-arid (but not
necessarily desert) regions of Australia. They will tolerate lawns but the soil
must drain quickly.
All you
can do now is to remove dead limbs, keep it watered adequately but not
excessively and fertilize once a year in the early spring. Surface wood mulches
will help as well.
can do now is to remove dead limbs, keep it watered adequately but not
excessively and fertilize once a year in the early spring. Surface wood mulches
will help as well.
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Our kurrajong tree which is over 30ft high seems to be dying. Since September last year it has dropped all it's leaves and small branches have broken off. There is new shoot on the tops of branches but even though they are red they don't amount to much and seem to die off. The tree is in the middle of the lawn and covered in lichen. We need help.
I have a bottle tree that has been over watered in the recent flood period near Lismore. The leaves are shedding (about 80%). How can I release water from the soil?
Bottle trees should not be planted in lawns. Watering is too often and poor drainage.
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