Tree browning

11 years ago

Hi,

I have a tree I can't identify (inherited from previous owner and kind of like italian cypress) that is browning. A couple of weeks ago the top of the tree (1 - 1 1/2 feet) was still mostly green and I decided to water it more by changing container at the bottom (14in mixing bowl) which now can hold about twice as much as before. But now I notice the top is now start to brown too. See attached photos.

Help me identify the tree and tell me what I shoud do to hopefully recover/stop the browning. Thanks!

Featured Answer

grubby_AZ Tucson Z9

11 years ago

That is one heck of a lot of tree for that insanely small ball of dirt soaking up the July heat. If it were mine I'd consider it gone without a second thought.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

plantmanagerkaren
11 years ago
NOOOO, Grubby! All plants deserve saving. :) I can't help with the ID, but that poor baby does need to go in the ground if you have a spot away from the house.
imkvl thanked plantmanagerkaren
Related Professionals
Ocala Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Bainbridge Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Roanoke Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Akron Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Pullman Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Mountain Home Landscape Contractors · Indianapolis Landscape Contractors · Enfield Landscape Contractors · Sioux Falls Landscape Contractors · Washington Basement Remodeling · Pensacola Basement Remodeling · Cookeville Basement Remodeling · Charlottesville Basement Remodeling · Mason City Basement Remodeling · Logan Basement Remodeling
imkvl
Original Author
11 years ago
How much water per day does this tree need during this time of year?
grubby_AZ Tucson Z9
11 years ago
From a terrible television show, there's a difference between on the ropes and bleeding out, and this is on the ropes. As for water, that's not the problem. The root ball probably cooked the sun.

Drawing on a full rich history of killing everything that can be killed, I'd say that trees of that ilk (sorry for the technical term...) do not recover from death very well. Branches and greenery grow only at the tips, brown parts are now good only for support, and there is nearly non-existent growth from the old parts of the trunk. A stick with a tuft.
imkvl thanked grubby_AZ Tucson Z9
grant_in_arizona
11 years ago
I'm with grubby, I'd just toss it. If you really want to save it, I agree, get it in the ground ASAP and water it a couple of times a week at least until it settles in. If it was mine, I'd say "adios". Let us know what you do and how it works out! Happy gardening either way!
imkvl thanked grant_in_arizona
imkvl
Original Author
11 years ago
Any recommendation for how much to water each time?
iandyaz
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
The most important thing is to not over-water right now. It's very tempting to want to compensate for the lack of water it received, but the roots won't take up as much water when it's not in sun and missing a lot of leaves that it usually has. Unless you're just soaking the dry rootball which has become hydrophobic, I wouldn't keep it in that tray with the water for very long.

It's hard to know what to do in the middle of the summer, but I personally wouldn't plant it in the ground right now, that would mean death for it where I live, unless I could give it some good western shade that could be removed after it recovered. If you keep it in the container, I would water very slowly for a few minutes every morning (drip system is perfect for this).
grant_in_arizona
11 years ago
If it was mine, and I took pity on it and planted it in the ground, I'd give it a good shot with a hose with a rose-waterer on it (the thing like the tip of a watering can (or shower head, hah) that disperses the water) for 3 full minutes 2 or 3 times a week. You can tell I don't do much automatic irrigation, LOL. Keep us posted!