Dying branch on Sourwood

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escambiaguy Atmore, AL(Zone 8b) Jun 18, 2006

I noticed this dying branch on my sourwood tree this morning. I don't have any idea what is causing it. I'm just not sure what this tree needs. I planted it in full sun, but now i'm thinking it would have been happier in part shade. It also wilts if I let it go too long without watering. It came in a 5gal container when I bought it. I did not break up the root ball any because I have read about how picky they are about their roots being disturbed, but I didn't notice any large circling roots when I took it out of the pot. Any suggestions?

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Post #2405518
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escambiaguy Atmore, AL(Zone 8b) Jun 18, 2006

one more

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StarhillForest Illinois, IL(Zone 5b) Jun 19, 2006

How long has it been there? If you can keep it alive through the summer, I would suggest replanting it (properly) before the next growing season. Exhume it, dunk the whole rootball into a tub of water and slosh away much of the potting mix, then spread the roots and replant it (keep it shallow) and mulch it, and don't amend the backfill.

Meanwhile, the potting mix around the roots might be dehydrating from capillary action, so finger-check the moisture level in the rootball rather than the surrounding backfill.

Or, maybe it's something else entirely!

Guy S.

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escambiaguy Atmore, AL(Zone 8b) Jun 19, 2006

I believe I planted it last fall. Should I prune out any of the top half after I transplant it? And what about the sun issue? I get the feeling our gulf coast sun is a little too hot for it.

This message was edited Jun 18, 2006 8:20 PM

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StarhillForest Illinois, IL(Zone 5b) Jun 19, 2006

Only prune what's dead. I probably would try to give it a little shade too, but that's not a big concern up here in Illinois!
Guy S.

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escambiaguy Atmore, AL(Zone 8b) Oct 25, 2006

I have an update on this. I pruned off that dying branch after posting this thread. Well, today I went out there and dug it up to check the roots. I washed all of the potting mix out of the roots. It turns out there was two trees growing in one pot. With just a little bit of pulling they came right apart. I was always puzzled by the strange branching habit of this thing


Here is a picture of the little tree that I thought was a branch of the big one (I guess it justifies the high price I paid for it). LOL

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starlight1153 Seale, AL(Zone 8b) Oct 25, 2006

Congrats on your baby!!!!! Don't know if this will help you or not, but I know they like an acid pH soil. Check around for webworms too. They love Sourwoods as much as the honey bees.

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