Did I kill one of my new Maple trees?

9 years ago

Last fall I had a local company install 3 Maple trees in my front yard. The trees were about 10' tall and 2-2.75" diameter. We installed early October (I'm in Michigan). This year they all started out good. He told me last year to water them weekly 5 gallons per tree. In the spring we received quite a bit of rain and he said if we had good rain not to worry in the spring. Anyhow, 3 weeks ago the 1 tree started showing signs of browning on the leaves when he installed this tree it had some discoloration in the leaves so I figured ok maybe it's inspects or something. Well, last week I came home and noticed it had progressed rapidly and the other two trees that looked great now also were looking like what the first one was the week prior. It was at this time I realized I must not have been watering them enough. So over the last week, I've made sure to really water them well and watering them more. The first tree at this point has lost most of its leaves and what is left are pretty brown. The other two appear to be doing good now and only show minor damage on some leaves. Do I just wait or is there anything I can do besides watering? If it's not dead will I see signs this year yet?

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Comments (6)

User
9 years ago
I would contact the person that planted them and see what he has to say. The trees should be under warranty If you followed his instructions.

You didn't kill the trees but they have certainly suffered a setback.
Greg
Original Author
9 years ago
I called him he told me I must not have watered it enough and that's my problem not his, when I asked him if there was anything I could do at this point he said, rip them out and start over. Anyhow that call was worthless, At this point I've been watering them based off what I've found online which says 5 gallons a week + 5 gallons per inch diameter. The front two trees are great this one was looking really bare but leaves are starting to slowly come back. I also went and cut off all of the dead branches and spray painted the areas I cut. We'll cross our fingers and see.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
"and spray painted the areas I cut"

Was there a specific reason for doing this?? Just curious......... :-)
Greg
Original Author
9 years ago
I was told by two people if you cut the bark or a limb that you should use paint or similar on the areas you cut. to stop the tree from "bleeding"? This includes from the guy that installed the tree so I was just following suit on it. Maybe not?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
That is very old school and a no longer accepted practice. Bleeding or running sap is not an issue for the tree at all and sealing pruning cuts by any means has been shown to increase problems for the tree, not solve them :-) Trees have an ability themselves to callous over or seal any pruning cuts and that's all that is necessary.

Sounds like the guy who planted the tree is a) a not very reputable landscaping professional; and b) not a particularly knowledgeable one, either!!
User
9 years ago
'he told me I must not have watered it enough and that's my problem not his'

You did exactly what he told you to do so it is his problem, he just won't 'man up'. I agree with GG, this guy is a slug, he should stand by what he says or at least be more specific with his 'expert' instructions.

I don't know your soil type and you didn't say what type of maple but on my sandy loam soil, once it gets hot and no rain, I'll water a new tree every day for the first week and every other day for a couple/three weeks. After about a month the tree will be over the initial transplanting shock and it won't be quite so touchy. So then you just need to check to see if things are getting dry every few days or so. Soils will differ in moisture holding capacity so you just have to get to know yours.