You’ve gone to the trouble of selecting the perfect spot, done the hard work of digging a hole, and planted a new, young tree. You’ve watered it and nurtured it, waiting to see it flourish, only a few weeks later the tree has started to wilt, or the leaves have turned brown. What gives?
When new trees wilt or their leaves begin to die, that signals a problem. Whether you are looking to get your trees professionally trimmed in Kingsport or need stump grinding services in Johnson City, tree care experts at Promier Tree want to share with you how to tell if your newly planted tree is simply just wilting or if it could be dying, and what you can do about it.
What to do about brown, yellow, or wilting leaves
Trees experience shock if their roots do not have enough room to become established. If this is the case with your tree, its leaves may turn brown or yellow or may wilt.
Here’s what you can do about it:
- Give the tree at least one inch of water per week.
- Add a two to four-inch layer of mulch around the base of the tree, but keep the mulch about five inches away from the tree’s trunk.
- Avoid pruning young trees unless you need to remove dead or damaged limbs.
If these tips do not work, you might want to consider replanting your tree in a larger hole to allow room for the roots to become established. However, this could shock the tree once more. If you aren’t sure whether you should replant your tree, consult with one of our certified arborists in the Tri-Cities area.
How to tell if your newly planted tree is dying
New trees undergo a lot of stress when they become planted. This stress is known as transplant shock, which is when the tree isn’t able to establish its roots. If the tree doesn’t have enough room for roots to spread, or if it isn’t watered enough, transplant shock may occur. While there are some tips above that might help you save your tree, here is how to tell if your newly planted tree is dying.
Try bending a tree branch. If it snaps quickly, chances are that the tree is dying or already dead. However, a live tree branch is nimble and is difficult to break. You also could use your fingernail or a pocketknife to gently scrape some of the bark off a twig. Good news if the underlayer is bright, moist, and green, that means the tree is still alive.
Arborists in Kingsport
Caring for young trees can be challenging, especially if you aren’t really sure what you’re doing. Hopefully, our guide can help you in your endeavor. When in doubt, seek the advice of a skilled arborist like the ones on staff at Promier Tree. You can reach us by calling (423) 765-2626 to schedule a free consultation. We provide tree complete tree care to the areas of Bristol, Johnson City, and Kingsport, Tennessee.