Trees dying???

Willowynd · #1 04/13/10, 11:44 PM

The first was a purple birch...it was one I put in oh- 5 yrs ago? Figured it was a fluke- we had a a late frost that killed the buds on lots of trees and bushed. Hoped it would come back this spring, but no. This spring I noticed my huge willow tree that was planted maybe 6 yrs ago is not putting out leaves...this tree is about 40-50 ft from the other one that died. It sits in an area that has run off when it rains and thus far has loved the area as it has grown faster than any of the other willows here. Ideas?

blooba · #2 04/14/10, 05:44 AM

Any idea's how far down bedrock is?
How good is the surrounding soil?
Just because they gre good for a few years doesn't mean they liked the area, most store bought trees have a multi year fertilizer added in the rootball.
Are you sure they were ideal conditions for that particular species?
2 trees in about the same timeframe is suspicious,
are you sure they were ideal for your climate zone?
Alot of big box stores will sell plants that aren't even ideal in your area.
Or maybe there was too much runoff and the trees drowned.

MariaAZ · #3 04/14/10, 07:10 AM

Try the Ag Extension service. We had problems with our trees in the past and they were very helpful.

7thswan · #4 04/14/10, 07:18 AM

Is it possible that Round up was used upstream from the run off?

Stush · #5 04/14/10, 08:11 AM

Round Up upstream isn't likely to be the culprit. Glyphosate has to be absorbed by the leaves for it to affect the plant. Overspray from someplace upwind could be the cause, but not if it was only in the runoff.

manfred · #6 04/14/10, 08:34 AM

I once sprayed poisen ivy on a tree trunk with glyphosate , killed the tree. I did not spray the tree leaves.

GoatsRus · #7 04/14/10, 09:27 AM

Have you checked for grubs? Grubs killed a couple of our trees until we started treating the yard with milky spore.

Katey · #8 04/14/10, 10:04 AM

Has someone been careless with the weed whacker? Or, in the winter, did mice chew the bark down by the soil line?

crobar · #9 04/14/10, 10:51 AM

Any black walnuts close by? They can be fatal to a lot of plants, including some trees.

Old Vet · #10 04/14/10, 03:32 PM

Check for termites. I have had some and what they do is chew on the roots. dig a small hole and see if it has roots.

Willowynd · #11 04/14/10, 04:59 PM

The really moist conditions is ideal for willows and birches...they don't mind getting thier feet wet at all and natively will grow next to steams and ponds and such. I planted all my other willows in areas that tend to get wet too and they are also thriving. Black walnuts..none close by. I will check for grubs and termites but never had a termite issue in any of the buildings or wood piles so rather doubt that. No carelessness with the weed wacker...they are mulched with a wide ring of wood chips to prevent us having to trim around the tree trunks. I will go out and check bark...I know deer has munhced on my fruit trees and killed those before so did look for large portions of bark missing, but did not check for small areas. No chemicals that could have run off....we garden organically with no pesticides and the only run off we have would come from our land. The only thought I did have is we have a septic with long pipes underground and water overflow from that will seep into the ground....but if that was the case I would imagine all the trees near the septic feild would be dead. Also did have one other thought. Hubby likes to mulch too deep around the trunks of trees...I always move it when I see it piled against the trunks....but I have caught him going after me and putting it back in the past (it is a big disagreement we have...I say it is unhealthy he says it is good). I did not crawl under the willow to check and see that one- but I do know when I notcied the birch doing poorly I did find mulch way too deep and moved it- though possible it was too late.

Darren · #12 04/14/10, 05:54 PM

Willows are one of the trees that do not have tap roots. They do very well in areas that flood frequently. Mulch has the possibility of hiding a number of things that can be detrimental to some trees. Most folks know that they can kill a tree by adding additional soil over the roots. I don't think that's a problem with mulch.

What type of mulch did you use? Some of the mulch which is gound up pallets dyed for apearance isn't necessarily harmful. Just keep in mind you're doing something that nature, except for leaves, does not do.

I second the thought of talking to an extension agent or a master gardener to check the tree for a possible causes of its death.

Willowynd · #13 04/14/10, 07:55 PM

OH, just went out and did some more looking and digging. These trees both look like they had fast growth- bark split. That said, I checked the other trees and have several other trees that did the same thing and they are fine. The willow was not mulched deeply near the trunk...actually alot of the mulch was about 6 inches away from the trunk. The birch, I dug under that one...The mulch was compacted on top of the soil and lifted off in a layer. There was a large ants nest, a couple earwigs and lots of earth worms in the soil. There was also a white sprout topped with a bit of bright green...not sure if it was root or new growth.

blooba · #14 04/15/10, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willowynd

OH, just went out and did some more looking and digging. These trees both look like they had fast growth- bark split. That said, I checked the other trees and have several other trees that did the same thing and they are fine. The willow was not mulched deeply near the trunk...actually alot of the mulch was about 6 inches away from the trunk. The birch, I dug under that one...The mulch was compacted on top of the soil and lifted off in a layer. There was a large ants nest, a couple earwigs and lots of earth worms in the soil. There was also a white sprout topped with a bit of bright green...not sure if it was root or new growth.

Their not carpenter ants are they? Although I doubt the tree is big enough for them yet.

Willowynd · #15 04/15/10, 11:33 AM

They are tiny ants...not sure what kind they are. I must have disturbed a nest though as there was little green elongated things scattered in the soil.

geo in mi · #16 04/15/10, 11:44 AM

Willowynd
Split bark is sometime an indication that your tree was struck by lightning. When hit, the moisture inside reaches boiling and steam erupts--damaging the tree. Not always, but sometimes the tree dies...
Just a thought.
geo

Ravenlost · #17 04/15/10, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MariaAZ

Try the Ag Extension service. We had problems with our trees in the past and they were very helpful.

I agree. If there's some type of disease in your area the Ag Extension office will know about it.

Last summer the MS Ag Dept put out a notice that a tree disease common in south MS was spreading. We lost a HUGE elm tree, my lovely dogwood, my pretty crabapple and a Sassafras tree.

Willowynd · #18 04/16/10, 01:10 AM

Thanks I will try calling them.

Willowynd · #19 04/16/10, 01:12 AM

The mulch is wood chips from a local tree service.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren

Willows are one of the trees that do not have tap roots. They do very well in areas that flood frequently. Mulch has the possibility of hiding a number of things that can be detrimental to some trees. Most folks know that they can kill a tree by adding additional soil over the roots. I don't think that's a problem with mulch.

What type of mulch did you use? Some of the mulch which is gound up pallets dyed for apearance isn't necessarily harmful. Just keep in mind you're doing something that nature, except for leaves, does not do.

I second the thought of talking to an extension agent or a master gardener to check the tree for a possible causes of its death.