Q. I had my yard re-landscaped in June and with it I planted
a Desert Museum Palo Verde. After planting, I pruned it and maybe removed too
much which caused some sun damage. My great aunt used a lime and water
“paint” on her trees to repel critters and I’m wondering if this might
help.
A. The time of year it was planted probably had something
to do with the damage you’re seeing. The lime and water paint was used in the
past mostly to reduce sunburn from intense sunlight. The reduced damage from
painting the trunk and limbs attracted fewer insect problems.
to do with the damage you’re seeing. The lime and water paint was used in the
past mostly to reduce sunburn from intense sunlight. The reduced damage from
painting the trunk and limbs attracted fewer insect problems.
 |
| Fruit trees with trunks painted in Afghanistan. This was probably done by someone from an NGO and not done by locals for insect and sunburn control in Balkh Province. |
lime and water concoction
But painting
trees with this concoction was also used to make them look prettier. It’s still
done for ornamental purposes in some countries. Now we paint the trunk and
larger limbs of fruit trees with dilute white latex paint mostly to reduce
damage from boring insects attracted by injury from intense sunlight. That’s
its primary purpose.
But painting
trees with this concoction was also used to make them look prettier. It’s still
done for ornamental purposes in some countries. Now we paint the trunk and
larger limbs of fruit trees with dilute white latex paint mostly to reduce
damage from boring insects attracted by injury from intense sunlight. That’s
its primary purpose.
Plant at the Right Time of Year
First
off, planting trees and shrubs in the spring or fall months leads to more
success and less damage than planting during the summer months. Palo Verde,
like most landscape plants, should be planted in late January or February or
late September and October for best success. Those spring and fall months are
more forgiving than planting during the heat of the summer.
off, planting trees and shrubs in the spring or fall months leads to more
success and less damage than planting during the summer months. Palo Verde,
like most landscape plants, should be planted in late January or February or
late September and October for best success. Those spring and fall months are
more forgiving than planting during the heat of the summer.
Transplant Shock
Secondly
transplant shock, or the “interruption in growth” of plants when moved from a
container into the landscape, is more dramatic during the heat of the summer
than during the cool spring and fall months. Transplant shock that time of year
varies from almost nonexistent to severe branch dieback depending on the care
given when planted.
transplant shock, or the “interruption in growth” of plants when moved from a
container into the landscape, is more dramatic during the heat of the summer
than during the cool spring and fall months. Transplant shock that time of year
varies from almost nonexistent to severe branch dieback depending on the care
given when planted.
Dig the hole and planting depth
Dig the
planting hole three times the diameter of the container and make sure plants go
into a wet planting hole as quickly and carefully as possible. Never plant into
a dry hole even if you add water immediately after planting. Damage from
planting that time of year during the summer in coastal California might be
minor but not in the Mojave Desert.
planting hole three times the diameter of the container and make sure plants go
into a wet planting hole as quickly and carefully as possible. Never plant into
a dry hole even if you add water immediately after planting. Damage from
planting that time of year during the summer in coastal California might be
minor but not in the Mojave Desert.
Make
sure plants are planted at container depth and, after planting, have not sunk deeply
into soft, wet soil. This can be difficult to detect after planting and is a
major cause for plants that struggle and eventually die after planting.
sure plants are planted at container depth and, after planting, have not sunk deeply
into soft, wet soil. This can be difficult to detect after planting and is a
major cause for plants that struggle and eventually die after planting.
Water Deep and Not Often
Water
this tree under the canopy with enough water to wet roots 24 inches deep. Irrigate
again to keep the soil moist at this depth, but not wet. Irrigating frequently
and deep enough to keep soils moist will cause your tree to stay full, grow
quickly and recover from sun damage. When it gets larger, reduce how often the tree
is watered but not the volume of water applied.
this tree under the canopy with enough water to wet roots 24 inches deep. Irrigate
again to keep the soil moist at this depth, but not wet. Irrigating frequently
and deep enough to keep soils moist will cause your tree to stay full, grow
quickly and recover from sun damage. When it gets larger, reduce how often the tree
is watered but not the volume of water applied.