Is my young avocado tree ok?

[Cptcatz]

I recently purchased this choquette avocado tree which I had shipped from a local nursery. When I opened the box the leaves were a little droopy so I gave it a good watering but the leaves never really perked up. I just planted it in the ground yesterday. When I took it out of the pot there was barely any root ball, just like a handful of scraggly roots hanging from the trunk. I tried planting it as carefully as possible. The leaves still look droopy, but I'm not sure if that's just how it's supposed to be. The pictures below are from when I opened the box and from just now about 24 hours after planting. Do you think it will be ok?
Thanks

 

[Chuck]

I recently purchased this choquette avocado tree which I had shipped from a local nursery. When I opened the box the leaves were a little droopy so I gave it a good watering but the leaves never really perked up. I just planted it in the ground yesterday. When I took it out of the pot there was barely any root ball, just like a handful of scraggly roots hanging from the trunk. I tried planting it as carefully as possible. The leaves still look droopy, but I'm not sure if that's just how it's supposed to be. The pictures below are from when I opened the box and from just now about 24 hours after planting. Do you think it will be ok?
Thanks

It is in transplant shock and it looks as if it is planted too deep. The root flare must be exposed. IAlso, mulch should not be touching the trunk. Get some SuperThrive and follow directions. What do you think will happen when the tree gets any size to it and the trunk is growing almost at a 45 degree angle? The trunk is supposed to be more or less straight. Just think what will happen when the tree is full of heavy fruit. If it were me I would send it back as it will be nothing but trouble.

 

[Cptcatz]

It is in transplant shock and it looks as if it is planted too deep. The root flare must be exposed. IAlso, mulch should not be touching the trunk. Get some SuperThrive and follow directions. What do you think will happen when the tree gets any size to it and the trunk is growing almost at a 45 degree angle? The trunk is supposed to be more or less straight. Just think what will happen when the tree is full of heavy fruit. If it were me I would send it back as it will be nothing but trouble.

Thanks for the response. I was kinda hoping the trunk would straighten out a little as it grew. Also the mulch isn't touching the trunk. I just contacted the nursery so maybe they'll send me a new one.

 

[Chuck]

It won't. It will get worse the larger and heavier it gets. Exposing the root flare is very important. Google root flare for more info.

 

[Cptcatz]

Thanks. I just went out and dug up a little around the trunk and I also staked it a bit more. The trunk is still a little pliable so I tried to straighten it as much as possible. Still just hoping the nursery sends me a new one lol

 

[Cptcatz]

So the tree has been in the ground for a week today, it doesn't really look any worse but it doesn't really look any better. Although last night a bunch of lower (bright green) leaves fell off, not sure what to make of that. I used SuperThrive as directed on the bottle, not sure if it made any difference. I also contacted the nursery, they were pretty short and didn't seem like they would do an exchange. Can this tree still make it?

 

[Chuck]

So the tree has been in the ground for a week today, it doesn't really look any worse but it doesn't really look any better. Although last night a bunch of lower (bright green) leaves fell off, not sure what to make of that. I used SuperThrive as directed on the bottle, not sure if it made any difference. I also contacted the nursery, they were pretty short and didn't seem like they would do an exchange. Can this tree still make it?

Be patient. If it doesn't perk up in a couple of weeks worry then. It takes plants time to get over the shock of having a bunch of its roots cut. If you had your legs amputated how long would you be laid up. Same thing with plants. The next time it needs watering use the Super Thrive again.

 

[Cptcatz]

So the tree has been in the ground for 7 weeks now. It lost most of its inner leaves but kept the outer leaves. Seems to be healthy overall but still no sign of new growth. I also straightened out the trunk a bit. Seems to look ok?

 

[Cptcatz]

So it's been almost a year and the tree is still alive but not really doing great. Almost all of the original leaves and even branches fell off but it put out three new lower branches which look really good. What worries me is the top is dying. I cut off the top that clearly died, you can still see a little of the dead wood under the slice. I'm worried that the dead wood will continue moving down the tree, but at the same time those lower branches are putting out nice new leaves. Do you think the lower branches will keep the tree going? Should I cut off anymore from the top? Thanks

 

[Chuck]

It looks as if the roots were more severely damaged by the grower or the nursery than realized. All you can do is give it time and SuperThrive once in awhile. There really isn't much more you can do except stay away from the place you bought it.

 

[cpp gardener]

Cut off any brown branches - they are dead. Can you find the bud union? that's the point where Choquette was grafted onto a seedling rootstock. If the new branches are coming from below that point, then Choquette is gone and you have only rootstock. Then you would need to start over with a better source.

 

[Cptcatz]

Cut off any brown branches - they are dead. Can you find the bud union? that's the point where Choquette was grafted onto a seedling rootstock. If the new branches are coming from below that point, then Choquette is gone and you have only rootstock. Then you would need to start over with a better source.

I'm pretty certain the new branches are above the union and are Choquette branches. It looks like the union might be the node a couple inches above the soil. Or would it be the sharp bend? Pretty annoying they would put such a sharp bend at the graft spot. Here are pics from today and from the day I got it a year ago.

 

[cpp gardener]

I think it's the node above the kink and below the branches. You get lucky. Now feed it real well.