Japanese Blueberry Tree help

[gabe0941]

I planted two 30gal Japanese Blueberry trees in October, but now one of them isn't doing too well. Yellowing and some browning all over, with more than usual leaf drop. I posted pics of both trees for comparison.

 

[oneeye]

Get a shot of the root flair in the ground so I can see for sure. I think I know without seeing but to know for sure I would have to see the flair. The plant that is distressed is planted too deep in the ground. A lot of trees come from the nurseries planted too deep in the containers for management reasons. If the new owner plants the already planted too deep, too deep in the ground the result is the effect above.

 

[gabe0941]

Here’s what it looks like. Is it bad?

 

[gabe0941]

Moved some dirt around

 

[oneeye]

Yes it is planted too deep and that's is most likely your problem. Gently remove the top layer of soil and cut away the top fine roots but leave the thick ones. The tree can't transpire gases and is holding too much moisture cutting off the oxygen in the root zone. This is an old photo of a healthy root flair just to give you an ideal what i'm talking about. All trees need oxygen in the roots or they will suffer sooner or later.

 

[gabe0941]

Thank you, will try that as soon as the rain stops here in Houston.

 

[DirtMechanic]

No mention if pH is known. Alum is good for that issue if you are alkaline, a little more than just sulphur, since it is potassium aluminum sulphate. Common name fertilizer name is aluminum sulphate. PH near 7 is good I was reading so this must be a blueberry by name more than type.

 

[gabe0941]

I do have some miracle-gro acid loving food. Have not had soil tested, though.

 

[gabe0941]

So I dug up the tree since it never improved. Found out there was a pool of water in my clay soil. Removed the tree and bought a new one. How can I make sure the same thing doesn't happen again? Shallower and wider hole? Keep clay inside the hole instead of new soil and compost? I notice water is still collecting in this hole since I took the tree out. Probably since it's hard clay and it's containing all the rain water and my sprinkler water.

 

[gabe0941]

If I plant the bottom of the rootball closer and shallower in relation to my ground level, will the shallow roots support the tree as it gets older?

 

[Marck]

The Japanese Blueberry Tree (Elaeocarpus decipiens) is a small evergreen tree in the Elaeocarpaceae, native to China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

 

[DirtMechanic]

If I plant the bottom of the rootball closer and shallower in relation to my ground level, will the shallow roots support the tree as it gets older?

Roots will grow down and establish if you raise the plant or bed it and it need not be much, just a couple inches so that feeder roots can breathe in drained but moist soil. You might stake the plant until established over the course of a year or so if you go that way.