Q. The leaves on my 3-year-old almond tree, planted in a container,
started to dry out quickly due to problem with drip system. To compensate, I hand watered but apparently
not enough. Once system remedied very
small new leaves starting to grow. Will
this tree survive the coming cooler weather?
I watered heavily and applied a tree and nut fertilizer.
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| Almond trees flowering in the spring |
A. I have seen
this before on young almonds planted in the ground and it is usually, like you
stated, an irrigation or drainage issue; the leaves dry up, turn brown and drop
from the tree before winter. Once the leaves are without water for a day, the
amount of hand watering you apply will not save any of the leaves. The leaves
are goners. But the buds already formed for next spring will grow instead. Usually
no flower buds, just leaf buds. That’s what happened to your tree.
this before on young almonds planted in the ground and it is usually, like you
stated, an irrigation or drainage issue; the leaves dry up, turn brown and drop
from the tree before winter. Once the leaves are without water for a day, the
amount of hand watering you apply will not save any of the leaves. The leaves
are goners. But the buds already formed for next spring will grow instead. Usually
no flower buds, just leaf buds. That’s what happened to your tree.
 |
| Almond regrowth in September after pruning a 12 year old tree 24 inches from the ground in August. It produced nuts the following year. |
The tree
will have no problems surviving the winter, with or without fertilizers, if the
soil is moist and drains water. That’s not the issue. They used up buds saved
for next spring. That’s the issue. Hopefully there is enough time remaining for
the tree to grow new buds before it gets cold. If not, you might see a delay in
leaf development and flowering next Spring.
will have no problems surviving the winter, with or without fertilizers, if the
soil is moist and drains water. That’s not the issue. They used up buds saved
for next spring. That’s the issue. Hopefully there is enough time remaining for
the tree to grow new buds before it gets cold. If not, you might see a delay in
leaf development and flowering next Spring.
 |
| Almond nuts splitting and starting to dry before harvest. |
Trees
grown in containers are more finicky than those planted in the ground because
the roots don’t have access to as much soil mass. The limited soil volume in
containers makes watering and applying fertilizers more complicated; the tree
runs out of both more quickly. Watering and fertilizer applications are in smaller
amounts but applied more often to compensate for the small amount of soil.
grown in containers are more finicky than those planted in the ground because
the roots don’t have access to as much soil mass. The limited soil volume in
containers makes watering and applying fertilizers more complicated; the tree
runs out of both more quickly. Watering and fertilizer applications are in smaller
amounts but applied more often to compensate for the small amount of soil.
 |
| ‘ Almond Neplus Ultra in bloom in Las Vegas with size control |
Almonds
put on a beautiful floral display in the Spring. I can see why you wanted it in
a container. Hopefully, you planted a dwarf almond like Garden Prince or All in
One and used a large container. Remember it needs to be repotted every few
years to keep it vigorous.
put on a beautiful floral display in the Spring. I can see why you wanted it in
a container. Hopefully, you planted a dwarf almond like Garden Prince or All in
One and used a large container. Remember it needs to be repotted every few
years to keep it vigorous.