Q. Dying leaves on peach
or apricot?
or apricot?
 |
| These fruit trees recently planted, whitewashed and the tops cut off. New growth occurred below the cut but it proceeded to die. |
A. Not much information to
go on with this question so I will give a broad response. From batch breaks pictures
sent with this message, the fruit trees appear to be newly planted, whitewashed
and the central stem pruned at about waist height.
Bareroot trees must be handled carefully
If this tree was newly planted and bareroot (no
container), it must be staked firmly in place, so roots do not move during the
first few months of growth. Securing the tree solidly, in one place, encourages
strong, future rooting.
container), it must be staked firmly in place, so roots do not move during the
first few months of growth. Securing the tree solidly, in one place, encourages
strong, future rooting.
I assume the soil was amended with compost at the time of
planting for better rooting and drainage. Build a donut or moat around the tree,
2 to 3 feet in diameter, to contain water from a hose. Water the tree with a
hose once a day for three days in a row to settle the soil around the roots and
remove air pockets.
planting for better rooting and drainage. Build a donut or moat around the tree,
2 to 3 feet in diameter, to contain water from a hose. Water the tree with a
hose once a day for three days in a row to settle the soil around the roots and
remove air pockets.
How to water
When that is finished, water every other day during warm
times of the year. Make sure to skip at least one day before watering so that
roots can “breathe”. Watering every day for a month could suffocate
roots and kill the tree or at least cause it to be sickly.
times of the year. Make sure to skip at least one day before watering so that
roots can “breathe”. Watering every day for a month could suffocate
roots and kill the tree or at least cause it to be sickly.
Bareroot tree roots dry and die quickly. These important
roots provide water and nutrients from the soil and are very small. Not large.
These tiny roots dry out and die in seconds. Excessive drying of these roots
causes “transplant shock” resulting in slow growth after planting.
roots provide water and nutrients from the soil and are very small. Not large.
These tiny roots dry out and die in seconds. Excessive drying of these roots
causes “transplant shock” resulting in slow growth after planting.
Protect the tiniest of roots from drying out
Bareroot trees can be finicky. You don’t see bareroot
trees sold much anymore to homeowners. Only experienced gardeners should buy
them. The roots of these trees must be kept moist from the time they leave the
nursery until they are planted.
trees sold much anymore to homeowners. Only experienced gardeners should buy
them. The roots of these trees must be kept moist from the time they leave the
nursery until they are planted.
How to identify overly dried roots
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| The feeder roots of plants, responsible for the majority of water and nutrient uptake by plants, is even smaller than these small white roots of Myers lemon growing in a container. |
A common symptom of bareroot trees that have excessively
dry roots is a short, flush of new growth after planting followed by their
death. The death of new growth looks like a lack of water. And in reality, it
is. Roots have died and can no longer supply water to new growth.
dry roots is a short, flush of new growth after planting followed by their
death. The death of new growth looks like a lack of water. And in reality, it
is. Roots have died and can no longer supply water to new growth.
If you think this might
be the case, wait and see what happens after planting. In about two months, if
you do not see new growth then the tree is dead and should be replaced.
Thanks! It seems I might have another one doing this a donut peach all from the local orchard purchase! My bay laurel trees are doing fine!
Thanks Bob! This tree was purchased from the local nursery. My bay laurel trees are fine! Also might have another one doing the same thing from the local orchard purches.