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Help! Weeping Larch S.O.S

14 years ago

We have purchased a Weeping Larch, and have only had it in the ground for a couple of weeks. It is turning brown and has some definite damage. I was hoping it was transplant shock or sunburn but after further inspection it has some other issues. The first thing I noticed was a sore on the main leader, leaking sap. Is it Canker, please say no!!! I also noticed another wound hidden by the bamboo stake holding it up. I think this one may be due to rubbing, and not sure how I missed it. It also has some browning on the crown, and some branches have discoloration from tips in. I guess what I am asking is first could it possibly have canker? Do we have that in Alberta? Everything I have read about it says the tree is a goner. If its not Canker what can I due to help it heal or prevent further damage from pests and diseases? Or is this a pest or another type of disease? I've googled what I can but hopefully one of you in the know will be able to help diagnose this!!! Thanks in advance for all of your input! I will post a bunch of pics too....

Comments (18)

  • 14 years ago

    Another full view angle showing a bit more browning

  • 14 years ago

    First Wound I noticed on main leader

  • 14 years ago

    Wound hidden by the stake

  • 14 years ago

    Crown

  • 14 years ago

    Branch Tips

  • 14 years ago

    Branch Tip close up

  • 14 years ago

    Doesnt look promising. Since it still has the nursery tags, you should be able to get a refund as there are a myriad of possible problems attributed to the grower/nursery. Anytime a Larix has gone south on me, they never recover.

    If you want to give it a chance, be certain to keep the roots consistently moist (especially if it is above average temperature wise by you). Larix are native to cool, moist, well draining sites -- thats what they need and want. If it pulls through. It will be bulletproof in a few years.

  • 14 years ago

    Doesnt look promising. Since it still has the nursery tags, you should be able to get a refund as there are a myriad of possible problems attributed to the grower/nursery. Anytime a Larix has gone south on me, they never recover.

    If you want to give it a chance, be certain to keep the roots consistently moist (especially if it is above average temperature wise by you). Larix are native to cool, moist, well draining sites -- thats what they need and want. If it pulls through. It will be bulletproof in a few years.

  • 14 years ago

    mostly transplant shock...

    dead tip means nothing to me..

    festering wound from stake .. not terminal ..

    keep receipt handy ...

    as above.. keep it properly.. and deeply watered.. i dont believe in chemicals on a stressed tree.. nor feeding ...

    i doesnt appear you dug a very wide hole.. how did you plant it.. and what is your native soil type ....

    at the root flare.. it looks like it was pretty deep in the pot.. eh????

    it a very bendable plant.. and if the top fails.. but not the rest.. we can guide another up.. if you dont have a warranty

    ken

  • 14 years ago

    Hi Ken and Jalapenos! My husband is a contractor so we purchased wholesale, no warranty. Have spoken to the nursery and they are willing to look at the pics and possibly warranty it anyhow. However if it is sick I'm worried the replacement will fail also. The hole was dug wide, but I placed the rootball slightly higher because we plan to mulch the rest once our foundation plantings are all in (hopefully that's okay...) We have clay soil, and were the last house in the area to be built, so we got all of the s#!+ dirt, with a light dusting of topsoil. I have amended using Compost and also applied Mykes (product to help root development not a fertilizer) I don't fertilize any new plantings learned my lesson the hard way, hope that good old compost is the best bet. I have been watering, but we have had thunderstorms here also. It has been kept consistenlty moist. It is very humid right now, and has been hot (probably should have waited until the fall to plant, but patience isn't a virtue of mine lol!)However it recieves morning sun and is somewhat sheltered from the hot afternoon sun. The browning started to show up yesterday morning, it was literally overnight and just seems to worsen. We have had nothing but overcast the last 4 days. The site has good drainage. This unfortunately was the only one in stock and can be hard to find, so I bought it, I should know better, and yes I disregarded how low it was because the roots looked healthy not bound, and seemed to be very happy! Is there a chance it could be too much moisture?

  • 14 years ago

    I agree with Ken. That wound will heal over .. it's not a canker . , It was caused from friction via that bamboo pole. The browning is what happens when you plant a larch during July. It IS transplant shock. Ken has it all correct.

    Just keep it watered that's all and fyi, larch like a lot of water.

    Dax

  • 14 years ago

    Myke Mycorrhizae products carry a five year warranty on plant stock treated with their product. So, if it doesnt make it, they are very good at honoring their guarantee. Keep watering very regularly and save your receipts!

  • 14 years ago

    to repeat.. i think.. lol...

    its a late planting .. though it can be done.. stuff happens..

    ITS TRANSPLANT SHOCK ... its NOT SICK .. in that it needs a remedy ...

    all it needs is PROPER WATER ... deep thorough waterings.. with NEAR drying in between ...

    do not invest more money in snake oil remedies ...

    is it zone appropriate for z3??? [i am too lazy to check]

    good luck

    ken

  • 14 years ago

    Ken, she has already used Myke product, I am reminding her of their warranty. Its not snake oil, but beneficial fungus already present in healthy soil--its a great idea just to receive a five year warranty on a prized planting.

    Also, I disagree with letting larix near dry between waterings when transplanted. I have found that overwatering is hard to do when drainage is good.

  • 9 years ago

    You should never water anything more than once a week. I own a garden center, 85% of dead plants drowned. Always allow it to almost dry before watering. Never more than once a week (unless maybe a hydrangea), but water deep when you do,

  • 9 years ago

    "You should never water anything more than once a week." Absolute statements covering everything are always wrong. ;-)

    Owning a garden center is a lot different than having a long term experience growing plants in the ground.

  • 9 years ago

    Hi! I gave the larch the season and after a crappy Calgary winter she was not a happy gal. She was removed and a new very healthy one was put in another spot in my yard. She is thriving!!! I find these like quite a bit of water. In fact the root system acts like a sponge. I have actually come to the conclusion that it was starting to die prior to planting, after being able to find a better specimen. The plant as Ken mentioned was buried too deeply in the pot and spent quite some time that way, I believe. I think it had no chance. I made a newbie mistake and after all these messages I dug quite aways down to find the correct crown, and as you can tell from one of my pics I had already exposed a few inches of trunk when I initially planted but not enough at all. The root system needs to be very close to the surface, in fact the new one has roots that grow a bit above ground almost or right at the surface. It was not a healthy purchase and should have been left to die at the nursery. On another note, I had a small weeping birch that died near that spot. I have also had reed grass die there. It is cursed lol! Now it houses a Christmas Flamingo in the winter and that's it. One day I will try to figure out why it is a death zone. This all was 5 years ago that's hard to believe that much time has passed! We have since moved on to our back yard and I havent lost a plant yet from the excellent advice you all have shared! And for any newbies out there reading this, from perennials to trees if you pick a properly planted and cared for plant to start, you will have a lot more success!

  • 9 years ago

    Never water anything more than once a week? Lol? Maybe it zone 1a.