avocado leaf-tip burn

17 years ago

I have two young avocados in the ground in my yard in San Diego, and they both look like they have a serious problem with leaf-tip burn. One is a seedling from an exceptionally flavorful Reed. It's been in the ground about 4 years and is roughly 6 feet high. The other is a Holiday that I planted almost a year ago, it too is about 6 feet tall. The Holiday looked great when I planted it, all the leaves were green and beautiful. Now all the leaves -- the ones it had when I planted it and the ones it subsequently put out here in my yard -- are brown for about 10-30% of their length. Leaves on the Reed seedling are about 25-50% brown.

I suspect a salt problem, but I don't know where it's coming from. I see no other plants in my garden showing signs of excessive salt. These plants get watered primarily with San Diego municipal water, but they get an occassional bucket of rainwater, to leach salt from the soil. During the growing season, they get 2-4 gallons of fish emulsion at the recommended dilution, every other week, but I've found no evidence on the internet that fish emulsion puts too much salt in the soil. I've given these plants a bit of "Dr. Earth" organic fruit tree fertilizer, at the recommended dosage but less frequently than recommended. Same for "Citrus grower's blend" multipurpose micronutrients.

Now both plants have swelling buds, and are preparing for a surge of growth. I'd like to keep that new growth from turning brown, if I can. Any insights?

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Comments (4)

fruitnut Z7 4500ft SW TX
17 years ago
It could be that your soil isn't well suited to avacado. Perhaps it doesn't drain well causing salt buildup or wet feet. But it could just be that all that fertilizer, even in small doses, is too much. I'd cut out the fertilizer at least until the trees exhibit better health.

The Fruitnut
californian
17 years ago
Doesn't San Diego import Colorado River water that is full of salt? Our water here in my part of Fullerton is a mix of Colorado River water and well water. My daughter goes to UCSD and when I visit her I can't stand the taste of the water coming out of the drinking fountains. I planted a Bacon and Holiday Avocado here in Orange County last year and the Bacon seems much more healthy looking than the Holiday. Part of my leaves are also turning brown. Could this be natural, just time to drop the old leaves and make new ones?
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bejay9_10
17 years ago
Welcome to avocado growing in San Diego area. Please don't get mad and rip out the poor thing - like I did. They do that a lot, cuz they are "unhappy" about something. I'm taking a different approach this year - don't water too much - fertilize too much, try to give the young tree some protection from sun, wind, etc., and hope for the best.

I did note, however, that mine improved a bit with the addition of some chicken fertilizer last summer. But - with all of our rain recently and cooler weather - it isn't happy again.

Sorry - but in another month or two - it should start liking things again, if it stops raining, or if we don't have too many Santa Anas, or you don't over-fertilize.

Good luck - they are delicious - especially when they live to become hardy enough to withstand all that we have to offer.

bejay
drwls_aol_com
15 years ago
I have had a bacon avocado tree about 35 years now, started from a two gallon pot. It yields large and delicious fruit every other year. The leaves don't look healthy much of the year. This winter, after the record December rains, they look worse than ever. Most are still hanging but the half of each leaf nearest the tip are brown and dry. We have an altitude of 25 feet above sea level with a high water table and poorly drained salty soil. I suspect the soil is the problem but the fruit is great. I have had to prune the tree heavily to keep it under 25 feet high.