Problem with Fuji Apple Tree - Dry Leaves

[beermanpete]

Hi,

About 1 month ago I planted a Fuji Apple tree and a Santa Rosa Plum tree in my front yard. The plum tree looks fine but the apple tree now has many leaves that look like they are drying out. They are getting the same amount of water, about 5 minutes each twice a week. I attached some photos. Do any of you know what the cause might be and what a possible remedy is?

Thank you.

Plum Tree

Apple Tree

Apple Tree Leaves

 

[Chuck]

You are watering incorrectly. Having a hose on full blast for 10 minutes a week is not the way to water. You want to water SLOWLY AND DEEPLY. You want the water to reach the roots and their surrounding soil. You don't want water runoff. Have the water run at a very slow trickle or drip. Water until the soil is saturated, probably 2 or 3 hours. It also appears from the pictures that the trees are planted too deep. I can't see the tops of any roots. Also you would be much better off if you were to heavily mulch around the base of your trees.

 

[beermanpete]

Thanks for the reply. I thought I was watering slowly. The water is not running wide open for sure but I can certainly slow it down a lot. The drainage is not real good in the soil so I will have to be careful with the flow rate if I leave it on for 2 or 3 hours but I will give it a try.

The trees came in pots with soil and I did not add any past the top when I planted them. Should I make an adjustment? How would I go about that? Would I simply remove some of the soil near the trunk?

I am planning to add about 2 inches of mulch around the trees to about a 3 foot radius from the trunk leaving about 6 inches clear from the trunks.

 

[Chuck]

Thanks for the reply. I thought I was watering slowly. The water is not running wide open for sure but I can certainly slow it down a lot. The drainage is not real good in the soil so I will have to be careful with the flow rate if I leave it on for 2 or 3 hours but I will give it a try.

The trees came in pots with soil and I did not add any past the top when I planted them. Should I make an adjustment? How would I go about that? Would I simply remove some of the soil near the trunk?

I am planning to add about 2 inches of mulch around the trees to about a 3 foot radius from the trunk leaving about 6 inches clear from the trunks.

You want your water to go deep. When you water deeply the roots of the tree will grow deep too. Not knowing your soil it is impossible to say how long to water except to water how ever long it takes to saturate the soil deeply
Google root flare. There are many videos and pictures of how to properly plant a tree

 

[beermanpete]

Chuck,

Thanks again for your input. Today I watered very slowly, as you suggested. I don't know how much the total water output is compared what I was doing but is not flowing out to the road so at least all the water is going into the soil (it was before as well). I will water this way from now on and hope the tree improves.

I will search on Google and YouTube for information about the correct planting method. I hope I can correct my planting error without further stressing the trees.

Peter

 

[beermanpete]

After watching some videos on YouTube and reading here and there on the internet I decided to look for the root crown on my trees. I carefully removed soil from the tree trunk until I found the crown. Both trees were planted low. The plum tree more so than the apple tree. I found the soil around the apple tree very dry despite having watered only twp days ago. The soil around the plum tree was moist but did have some dry areas.

Once I found the root crowns I made a flat area about 2 feet in diameter around the trees to pool water when watering so it can soak in near the roots. I will keep the water level below the root crown while watering and add
water after it soaks in since it does not drain very quickly.

 

[Fernsdaddy]

Sounds like you have lots of clay in your soil, if thats what you have I would add a little compost to it and dig it in to help drainage.

 

[Kathryn crook]

Also, it never hurts to leave a "cup" around your new trees to hold water so a slow soak will stay contained.

 

[beermanpete]

Sounds like you have lots of clay in your soil, if thats what you have I would add a little compost to it and dig it in to help drainage.

Yes, my soil is clay. I probably should have done something to help it drain before planting the trees but I did not realize it was necessary at the time. I plan to add some compost to the soil and do what I can to work it in without injuring the tree's roots.

Also, it never hurts to leave a "cup" around your new trees to hold water so a slow soak will stay contained.

This is basically what I did a few days ago. Now I can fill it and let it soak in rather than having the water run off if I water it enough.

 

[beermanpete]

A little follow up on my tree problem. The trees looks like they are improving. They are both starting to grow new leaves. Hopefully this means they are getting enough water. I added mulch to both of the trees as you suggested.

Thank you for all your input and help.

 

[Ash]

Fuji apple trees are vigorous. It's good you caught it in time, so the tree should recover just fine. It should be more resilient this year since the roots should have grown,

 

[beermanpete]

Yes, I think I caught it in time. Both trees are doing well. The plum tree produced fruit this year which surprised me. The apple tree has not flower yet and it is getting late in the season so I suspect it won't produce any fruit this year.

 

[Chuck]

The comparison between the first pictures you posted of the trees and these pictures are amazing don't you think?

 

[beermanpete]

Yes, it is quite amazing. I had not really noticed the striking amount of growth until comparing the photos. The day-to-day growth is slow enough I do not realize the change.

The plums taste amazing by the way. I am excited to taste the apples when they come in.