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Comments: Hi, I have 4 five feet tall arborvitae that are thicker than the columnar types. Unfortunately I noticed that one of them has browning at the top and I am afraid it's too late to stop it from dying. I am wondering what your thoughts are regarding this problem? Thank you, Donna

Answers:I can't say what is wrong with your arborvita without seeing it. Could you have bag worms? Is it to wet from recent rains? Is it root bound? There are an endless list of common problems that could cause this result.

Unfortunately all plants except plastic ones do die. Sometimes more than one cause is present. Sometimes it is a single factor. This brings up today's message. To much water can and will kill most non wetland plants. The reasons can be many fold but in simple terms, the plant drowns. It needs oxygen to sustain its growth. When the soils become saturated air to the roots is cut off. Thus low growing roots are killed off and only surface roots survive. When the next dry spell comes at is will in July and August. The remaining surface roots will then starve for water. This results in stresses that either weaken the plant and cause its death, or the plant will be attacked successfully by a pest. You will then wonder what caused its death. Was it the heavy rains or was it the dry spell? Look right in the mirror. It was probably a poor choice of a plant for that location.

If there is a sliver lining in these rain clouds that just dumped many inches of rain it is this. The sun will shine someday and the plants will dry out faster in June and July than if these rains occurred during cooler months. There is water in the ground and community water levels are high and you will be able to add water to your landscape plants in mid July when dry conditions do return.

Remember, your plants will still need water in afew days as this water will dry up.

When you come to Highland Hill Farm we want you to tell us everything about your location. Even what was there 2 years ago. It may sound funny or odd, but some plants leave trace residues in the soil to kill off competition. The classic example is a Walnut. Make a list of what does well in your area. These plants will probably do well for you. Bring in photos. They help us see the location. We don't just want top sell you plants, we want to sell you plants that thrive. Bill

Comments:I think we may have a wet weather casualty like you described in your recent email. The Higan Weeping Cherry tree which we got from you about a month ago was doing great after we planted it, with new growth and pretty healthy looking leaves...THEN it started raining! We got about 12 inches here on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and now the tree has leaves that are turning brown on the edges and falling off of the tree, all in a matter of days. Any suggestions to save this great tree? I am open to any suggestions. And gave it a deep soaking right after it went into the ground. Bill, Our soil is very much a mixture of sand and clay but we oversized the hole and worked the surrounding soil before we planted it. The top of the root ball is just at the surface and mounded up a little. We watered it consistently and it looked like it was doing great and then the rains came and now it has lost all of the original leaves with only the new leaf growth still on the tree. Gladys

ps. Do people really plant trees without unwrapping the ball?

Answer:

Many people remove the burlap and the wire baskets from their trees. I never suggest that the trees or plants that I sell be removed from the basket and burlap.. Unwrapping the tree allows it to fall apart. This is the biggest mistake made in planting. The wire basket will rot and rust away as well as the burlap. It does not restrict the roots. The basket and the burlap maintains the structure of the ball. A cracked root ball usually results in the tree getting a hard shock. Most of our balls are a clay ball. The clay can stay together if it is taken out of the basket and burlap. but as it is moved into position and placed into the hole is when the damage occurs. Then if there are any air spaces, the ball falls apart in that area as the soil moves into the empty spaces.

I also never suggest a deep soaking. Too much water prevents oxygen from reaching the root zone of the tree. Use the finger test. If when you feel the dirt ball and sense that the ball is dry it needs moisture. Try to avoid adding so much water that there is ponding. If the ball is soft and wet, leave it alone. It wants to feel just moist not wet. Your plant, though I have not seen it will probably recover. It is probably reacting to transplant shock. As you describe it it is not dead but stressed. A stressed plant shed some leaves to re leave the stress. This is how the plants copes with stress. A bad sign is all leaves die and stay on the tree. That would be a stressed plant that has died. I hope this answers your questions. Bill

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Article on: Winter Gardening tips
Winter can be a bleak hard time of the year for the grower of nursery stock. The days are short and the nights are long. Yet growing plants is a year round activity that does require the grower to be performings tasks. Watering plants can be be on your list. The ground may not be frozen and plants still use water. If the ground ...

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