Newly planted tree problem. HELP!

Bozwth · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 14 Location: Flower Mound,TEXAS

I just planted a container grown Red Oak 3 weeks ago and it seems to be having problems. The leaves are curling up on the edges and seem dry and brittle. I'm guessing that it is not getting enough water, but the soil seems moist. When I water it, I soak it very well and try not to water again until it dries out a little. I'm afraid to water it to much, but what I'm doing does not seem to be working. I planted it using the wide ugly hole technique and only used soil removed to backfill. I topped the exposed dirt after completely backfilling with a little compost, lava sand and ceder mulch. I sprinkled on a little sick tree treatment a week or so later. I am 99% sure that it is not planted too deep. That was the main reason I planted it myself. I did spray it with a little Garrett Juice, mixed 2oz. to 1gal. of water. A few days after that is when the leaves started to wilt.

What can I do to get the tree back on track? And how much should I be watering it? Any help would be apreciated.

Thanks, Robert

pakin · Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 219 Location: Hubbard,TEXAS

I'm no expert, but if were my tree, I'd let water drip at the trunk for about 24 hours--if you didn't soak the root ball before planting.

Pat Akin

Bozwth · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 14 Location: Flower Mound,TEXAS

I did soak the root ball before I took it out of the plastic container. And I soaked the whole thing after I finished planting to settle the soil aswell.

Mikey · Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 46 Location: Grand Prairie,TEXAS

I had the same problem with my Shumard Red Oak. First of all, I got a good deal on it ($12 for a 3 gallon container, approximately 6 feet tall) which may not be a good sign (you get what you pay for). I planted it about 3 months ago, and it had the same problems. One of the main problems with container grown trees is circling roots, remove these as they will eventually strangle the tree. I have been using the Garrett juice with some orange oil as a foliar spray once a week (major problem with bugs on my tree) and it has helped. Keep any mulch at least 3 inches away from the trunk (mulch on trunks will kill trees). Your tree is going to lose it's leaves very soon anyway, so keep doing what your doing and hopefully it will make it!!!

Mikey · Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 46 Location: Grand Prairie,TEXAS

OH, and don't water a Red Oak too much!!!!

Bozwth · Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 14 Location: Flower Mound,TEXAS

I did loosen up the ball a bit with a screwdriver before I burried it. The roots were circling in the container and had formed a container shaped wall of roots. I didn't want it to be a barrier to prevent other roots from getting past it so I loosened them up quite a bit to give any new roots a chance to grow outward. I removed the small amount of hair like matting of roots on the top as well.

I didn't know about the mulch thing, I'll get it back away from the trunk.

Watering it too much was my biggest consern, but the way that most of the leaves have gotten so dry and brittle makes me thing that I have not watered it enough.

I've seen a few bugs on mine as well. I'll look into adding orange oil to my Garrett Juice.

I really appreciate the help. I just hope I haven't killed it already. This is the first tree I've planted...

The Ent · Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 784 Location: ,

Mikey wrote: OH, and don't water a Red Oak too much!!!!

Bear in mind, the first year in the ground- especially as dry as it's been lately, even a red oak will need a good regular (long and deep, with plenty of time in between- like the lawn) watering to help it get established.