Hi, all. I planted a Sourwood in April, and it did well through June,
when it went into a rapid decline. It's still under warranty from the
nursery, but before I get it replaced I want to make sure the same thing
doesn't happen to the replacement. (And before you say "Google", it
didn't help). Here's the detailed timeline:
Early April: purchased 8' tree, set it into ground in what was to be a
raised bed; but couldn't be completed because the tiller broke down.
Mounded soil (mixture of native heavy clay, topsoil, peat, and manure)
to height the bed would be and planted. Stupidly, planted tree in wrong
spot and had to move it 2 feet over a couple of weeks later. Tree
healthy, plenty of new growth. A Sweet Bay Magnolia was planted at the
same time; it has remained completely healthy.
Early May: Tornadoes hit; top 18" broken off of tree but no other damage.
Blooms begin to form shortly after.
Early June: Fill in rest of bed. Because the tree was planted in mounded
soil, no additional dirt was placed over roots. Same soil mixture. Added
an ounce of Azalea-Rhododendron fertilizer (because Sourwood is in the
same family) and a small amount of aluminum sulfate; worked these in the
soil with some manure.
Mid-June: Tree in full bloom, but leaves starting to look transparent
and taking on fall color. Coincides with summer heat arriving.
Late June: Leaves dry up. They have not fallen yet, but are orange and
bone-dry.
Should I not have added fertilizer or aluminum sulfate, even in the
conservative amounts that I did? Could my cats have overfertilized the
tree? Could the tree have been stressed from the tornado, and not been
able to handle the additional stress of summer heat? It's planted in
full sun, in Zone 7, with good drainage. (I'm one county outside this
tree's natural range). This tree was at the nursery a year ago, so this
climate is not strange to it.

dementia13 wrote:
Hi, all. I planted a Sourwood in April, and it did well through June,
when it went into a rapid decline. snipped a whole lot of stuff

Your sourwood has the dreaded tropical disease, Lack-a-Nooki. In the
past it was a disease of progressive decline without any cure.
Fortunately great strides have been made in the field of whoreticulture
in recent years, and there is yet hope for your tree.

Go to your nearest pharmacy and ask for sildenafil citrate in 100 mg.
tablets. Crush one tablet and mix in 1/2 cup of lukewarm water. Pour
over the top of your tree. If you don't see results within 24 hours
take two tablets by mouth (that means you swallow them yourself)
followed by 1/2 cup of cold water. You should see results within 1
hour. For best results, be sure paghat, Granny Artemis and animaux are
not within your field of view.

In article ,
Eileen Dover ""no spam\"@this address.org wrote:


Your sourwood has the dreaded tropical disease, Lack-a-Nooki. In the
past it was a disease of progressive decline without any cure.

Funny. Are you sure your name is Eileen and not "Ben Dover"?

For what it's worth, I think I killed a dogwood tree this summer. This was
its second full year in the ground (planted it in fall of 2000, as I
recall). Though it was quite small, and didn't grow much in its current
location, I thought it was well enough established to exist on the watering
that it gets from a sprinkler system (15 minutes , 3 X week, 3/4 shade
environment). Add one hot late June/early July weekend of steady dry winds,
and every leaf turned into a pale green cornflake........ There's
still some pliability to the trunk and some branches, so I'm not going to
yank it out until I see whether it leafs out next spring - but I'm not
optimistic........
"dementia13" wrote in message
...
Hi, all. I planted a Sourwood in April, and it did well through June,
when it went into a rapid decline. It's still under warranty from the
nursery, but before I get it replaced I want to make sure the same thing
doesn't happen to the replacement. (And before you say "Google", it
didn't help). Here's the detailed timeline:
Early April: purchased 8' tree, set it into ground in what was to be a
raised bed; but couldn't be completed because the tiller broke down.
Mounded soil (mixture of native heavy clay, topsoil, peat, and manure)
to height the bed would be and planted. Stupidly, planted tree in wrong
spot and had to move it 2 feet over a couple of weeks later. Tree
healthy, plenty of new growth. A Sweet Bay Magnolia was planted at the
same time; it has remained completely healthy.
Early May: Tornadoes hit; top 18" broken off of tree but no other damage.
Blooms begin to form shortly after.
Early June: Fill in rest of bed. Because the tree was planted in mounded
soil, no additional dirt was placed over roots. Same soil mixture. Added
an ounce of Azalea-Rhododendron fertilizer (because Sourwood is in the
same family) and a small amount of aluminum sulfate; worked these in the
soil with some manure.
Mid-June: Tree in full bloom, but leaves starting to look transparent
and taking on fall color. Coincides with summer heat arriving.
Late June: Leaves dry up. They have not fallen yet, but are orange and
bone-dry.
Should I not have added fertilizer or aluminum sulfate, even in the
conservative amounts that I did? Could my cats have overfertilized the
tree? Could the tree have been stressed from the tornado, and not been
able to handle the additional stress of summer heat? It's planted in
full sun, in Zone 7, with good drainage. (I'm one county outside this
tree's natural range). This tree was at the nursery a year ago, so this
climate is not strange to it.

The main problem here is that you placed an understory plant in the full sun,
assuming you are talking about the same thing that I know as sourwood
(Oxydendrum arboreum). They like lots of shade, and very early fall color is a
good sign that the tree is not happy. I would find a tree that prefers full
sun as a replacement. I would reccommend asking the nursery staff about a
plants requirements before investing the time and money.

Toad

dementia13 wrote:

Hi, all. I planted a Sourwood in April, and it did well through June,
when it went into a rapid decline. It's still under warranty from the
nursery, but before I get it replaced I want to make sure the same thing
doesn't happen to the replacement. (And before you say "Google", it
didn't help). Here's the detailed timeline:
Early April: purchased 8' tree, set it into ground in what was to be a
raised bed; but couldn't be completed because the tiller broke down.
Mounded soil (mixture of native heavy clay, topsoil, peat, and manure)
to height the bed would be and planted. Stupidly, planted tree in wrong
spot and had to move it 2 feet over a couple of weeks later. Tree
healthy, plenty of new growth. A Sweet Bay Magnolia was planted at the
same time; it has remained completely healthy.
Early May: Tornadoes hit; top 18" broken off of tree but no other damage.
Blooms begin to form shortly after.
Early June: Fill in rest of bed. Because the tree was planted in mounded
soil, no additional dirt was placed over roots. Same soil mixture. Added
an ounce of Azalea-Rhododendron fertilizer (because Sourwood is in the
same family) and a small amount of aluminum sulfate; worked these in the
soil with some manure.
Mid-June: Tree in full bloom, but leaves starting to look transparent
and taking on fall color. Coincides with summer heat arriving.
Late June: Leaves dry up. They have not fallen yet, but are orange and
bone-dry.
Should I not have added fertilizer or aluminum sulfate, even in the
conservative amounts that I did? Could my cats have overfertilized the
tree? Could the tree have been stressed from the tornado, and not been
able to handle the additional stress of summer heat? It's planted in
full sun, in Zone 7, with good drainage. (I'm one county outside this
tree's natural range). This tree was at the nursery a year ago, so this
climate is not strange to it.

Sounds like it might be a combination of problems. Despite other posts to the
contrary, sourwoods are very tolerant of full sun locations (Dirr recommends
full sun to part shade), but that combined with abrupt high heat may have
been too stressful to a newly planted tree, specially if watering was not
attended to sufficiently. And most nursery-grown stock is usually grown in
full sun conditions, so this situation should not be anything new to your
tree. I doubt the tornado had much effect other than the deformation and the
damage, which a healthy tree should be able to withstand.

FWIW, professionals generally shy away from fertilizing anything newly
planted - transplant shock and the process of establishment is enough of a
stress to a young tree - fertilizing only compounds the stress. If anything,
use a transplant or root developing fertilizer. Mycorrhiza fungi should help
as well.

I'd just keep it well watered throughout the summer and hope for the best.
Many trees which experience foliage damage from lack of water, sun scorch or
other stress will refoliate, perhaps this season, perhaps next spring. It's
too soon to call it a goner.

I have a sourwood that I've had for about 3 years now, still in the original
nursery container (yes, I know, I'm a plant abuser) as its ultimate home base
has not yet been prepared for planting. Keep meaning to pot it up a size or
two, but so far haven't gotten to it. Despite the mistreatment this tree has
received (the occasional missed watering, retarded root development, etc.),
it still is doing fine although foliage and flowering are skimpy. These are
pretty tough little fellows.

pam - gardengal

dementia13 wrote:
In article ,
Eileen Dover ""no spam\"@this address.org wrote:



Your sourwood has the dreaded tropical disease, Lack-a-Nooki. In the
past it was a disease of progressive decline without any cure.


Funny. Are you sure your name is Eileen and not "Ben Dover"?


No, I'm definitely Eileeen Dover this week. I was Ben Dover LAST week.
NEXT week I'm gonna try some of that sildenafil citrate myself and
then I'll be Hugh Jorgan, although most people will probably call me
Hugh Jass.

In article , Pam
wrote:

Sounds like it might be a combination of problems. Despite other posts to the
contrary, sourwoods are very tolerant of full sun locations (Dirr recommends
full sun to part shade), but that combined with abrupt high heat may have
been too stressful to a newly planted tree, specially if watering was not
attended to sufficiently. And most nursery-grown stock is usually grown in
full sun conditions, so this situation should not be anything new to your
tree. I doubt the tornado had much effect other than the deformation and the
damage, which a healthy tree should be able to withstand.

Thanks. Yes, my research did indicate that it would be OK in full sun,
which it was in at the nursery. At the absolute worst, these will often
sprout back from the roots; I just hate to get set back that far on such
a slow-growing tree. I'll take your advice- be patient and hope for the
best.