Eastern North Carolina
80 degrees now
The nursery delivered three 25 gallon pots on a Friday.
Due to circumstances they weren't put in the ground until 6 days later. In the time of waiting to be planted there was a couple heavy storms and I watered once (bad me).
Heavy watered night before planting. Stuck end of hose into hard hard top of soil in pot and tried to water. Filled their pre dug hole with water so they could suck up some thru the tiny holes.
The next night we planted.
The soil is sandy.
A hole was dug so it had a pots width all the way around. It was only as deep as the top of the soil in the pot.
I added to the hole:
5 gallon bucket of peat
2/3 bag compost
Scored the hard compacted root ball with razor knife but I didn't break open the root ball.
Should I have?
Placed in hole
Put in half original soil
Watered down to get soil to settle and get rid of air pockets.
Filled in with the rest, not going over top of pot/flare.
Stepped around to tamp down, watered again for air bubbles.
Added mulch, not around trunk.
That was last night. Leaves were a little yellow and some dry. Today... Yellow and dropping. Stress from me failing to water enough initially then shocking with tons?
Do you think they'll survive?
The one tree looks super dry and brown. Can I cut that branch ?