vario
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Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:43 am

lilac tree is drying

hello !first I like to introduce myself ,I am a newbid in this forum,I have a lilac ivory silk tree ,we had just plant it a month or so ,this 's my question ,after a month ,the trees has dry leave and brown edge and curving ,to me it looked like it's drying ,but the place that I bought the trees from ,suggest that it might be over watering ,it get too wet in the root ball,the flower has gone from white to almost off white ,how can we tell by looking at it if it's too wet or too dry ,I need big time help !!!!!hoping someone can give me an answer for that ,will this tree die soon?thank's

Newt
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Posts: 1868
Joined: Tue May 25, 2004 10:44 pm
Location: Maryland zone 7

Hi Vario,

I'm thinking that your tree is Syringa reticulata 'Ivory Silk' and will grow to about 25' tall. You don't say how often or how much you water it so I can't tell you if it's too much or not from that. I would also need to know the caliper (how big around) of the trunk. You also don't say if you planted it or the nursery planted it. Overwatered trees will get brown leaves.

Here is what I suggest you do. Take a look at these sites to see that it was planted properly, not too deep so the rootflare is buried (you will see in the link below) , has the right amount of mulch and the mulch isn't against the trunk and read on how much to water according to the caliper (trunk size) of the tree.

https://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/trees/f1147w.htm
https://www.tlcfortrees.info/planting%20depth.htm
https://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/mulching.aspx
https://www.mdvaden.com/advice-landscape.shtml#wateringsuggestions

Newt

vario
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Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:43 am

thank's newt for the quick reply.the tree is 2" caliper from the nurseries ,I slowly see the problem ,I think we have dig the hold deep enought but I don't think it's wide enought ,if that's the case what should we do at this moment beside watering the leave is dry and curving ,I think it's drying underneat the root ball ,so I bought the root ball water feeding for the tree see if that help for that moment ,otherwise ???"

Newt
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Posts: 1868
Joined: Tue May 25, 2004 10:44 pm
Location: Maryland zone 7

If it is dry under the rootball that would have nothing to do with how wide the hole is. Digging it wide allows the roots to spread out more easily as it grows. Since it's only been planted 2 months, I suggest that you GENTLY remove the soil from one area around the rootball to see if it's wet or dry under it. Maybe there is a layer of clay under the rootball that won't let it drain properly and the tree sits in water. You could also make the hole wider without digging up the tree. Just dig down and at an angle. Make sure it's shaped like a wok that is used in Oriental cooking. The roots of the tree won't have spread out much yet.

By the way, was this tree in a pot or b&b (balled and burlaped) so it would have been wrapped in burlap? If it had burlap did you remove most of the burlap? If it was in a pot did the roots keep circling around - called rootbound?
https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/planting/manyroots.htm

If it was very rootbound it may not be able to take up the water to the center of the plant.

Newt

vario
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Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:43 am

when we put the tree into the hole ,it's was wrapt with the brown fabric and a wire holder,I didn't remove the brown fabric .I was told I didn't have to ??? :? I think the hole wdith wasn't big enought to put alot of pit moss and top soil that why the trss was drying :oops: what else can it be done here?beside worries :cry:

Newt
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Posts: 1868
Joined: Tue May 25, 2004 10:44 pm
Location: Maryland zone 7

I know this is confusing for you, but I'm sure if we keep at it, we will figure it out. If the brown fabric was a natural fiber burlap it will rot away over time, but it is best to remove as much as you can. If the brown fabric is NOT a natural burlap it will never rot away. I would suggest you call the place where you purchased the tree and ask them if the brown fabric was a natural fiber burlap. It should have been cut away from the top of the rootball and not left tied around the trunk of the tree. This site has a video on how to properly plant a tree and I think it will be very helpful for you to watch it. Click on the picture in the middle for 'Balled and Burlaped Trees'.
https://www.arborday.org/trees/video/howtoplant.cfm

Newt

vario
Newly Registered
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 10:43 am

we wish we have see this before we plan the tree.I know what u mean now ,than the side is not wide enought for the root to glow ,is this too late to dig the side right now ?the fabric is in there so do the wire .I am thinking to dig the side more wider than it should be .thank's

Newt
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Posts: 1868
Joined: Tue May 25, 2004 10:44 pm
Location: Maryland zone 7

Vario, since you just planted this tree and the roots are still wrapped, you could dig and start over again. You wouldn't have to remove it from the hole if it's planted at the correct depth, just dig around and remove most of the burlap and wire. That is what I would do. You could rent or even borrow a wire cutter to remove some of the wire basket. Do you think you can do that?

Newt



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