Avocado tree looking ratty...
 

Hi all;
Our avocado tree is looking a bit sick and I'm not sure why. It's lost
most of it's leaves and all it's flowers. Some of the flower stems have
small avocados (10mm) on them but, really, very few.

It's a well established tree, planted long before we moved in. We've
only been at this property for about 4 years.

A few years ago I put a large circular edging around it - out about 1/2
way between the trunk and the drip line. I mulched the area between the
trunk and the edging making sure the space around the trunk was free of
mulch. I planted all sorts of plants in that mulch - anything that didn't
mind a bit of shade.

I also pruned it back a few months ago, it was just getting too tall and
wide. I've done in previous years and it didn't seem to mind.

I can't see any insect damage, and no real fungus damage on the leaves
that remain. I just don't see any new leaves.

I'm getting a bit old and forgetful but I really don't remember it
looking so ratty. Do avocados do this or am I missing something?

Thanks,
Norm

Avocados are not deep rooting trees, so the circular edging you made may
have cut half its roots off, and half its nutrient/water uptake capacity.
They really should be left undisturbed under the tree. But since you said
it was well established at least four years ago it is highly likely that it
has phytophthora (a soil fungus), a major problem of mature avocado trees in
Australia. Have a bit of a dig--if the roots have a distinct reddish look
about them, then phytophtora is the answer, and it will die.

If you decide to replace it, try to get a tree on a phytophtora-resistant
rootstock, such as Reed or Velvick.

In article , "Norm L"
wrote:

Our avocado tree is looking a bit sick and I'm not sure why. It's lost
most of it's leaves and all it's flowers. Some of the flower stems have
small avocados (10mm) on them but, really, very few.

Could it be heat stress?

--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

"Life is like a cigarette -- smoke it to the butt." -- Harvie Krumpet

I have an avacado tree which I brought in the house during our recent
Florida hurricanes. I noticed that my cat took a particular liking to
the large potted plant and used it as her litter box a few times.

Now my tree's leaves are drooping. I have moved it back outside and
heavily watered the soil, as well as added some Miracle Gro to the
soil. Is there anything anyone can recommend to help rejuvinate it.

The leaves are still green but they are all droopy.

Chookie wrote in message ...
In article , "Norm L"
wrote:

Our avocado tree is looking a bit sick and I'm not sure why. It's lost
most of it's leaves and all it's flowers. Some of the flower stems have
small avocados (10mm) on them but, really, very few.

Could it be heat stress?