"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Monday, August 2, 2010

July end of the month view - can you help my tree?

I actually didn't forget the end of month view that I've been joining in with Helen from The Patient Gardener, but just couldn't take pictures of this area in the state is was in.  It needed some serious cleanup and I finally had a chance to do some today.  The Japanese Maple 'Orido Nishiki' in this bed isn't looking so great right now and I'm hoping someone may have some advice on what I can do about it.  Everything else in this area looks great and is blooming on time.

I had to cut many flowers from the lower parts of the Hydrangeas.  They were laying completely on the ground.  Because this bed faces northwest it gets very little to no sunlight from the tree back towards the house.  The soil never really dries out especially after the very wet spring and early summer we had and having a gutter downspout draining into this bed I think that could be contributing to the trees problems.
Aside from the tree looking like the middle of September everything else is very happy here.

Fuchsia 'Queen Esther' just started to bloom and the Spiderwort (Tradescantia) is beginning to bloom again.  I probably cut off 20 Hydrangea blooms and it still is full of flowers.

The Hosta behind the little girl has been doing well.  Most of my Hostas are full of holes from the slugs that still are wreaking havoc in the garden.

If you look at the base of the tree you can see it's black in the back.  I remember noticing it in the same place last year, but never thought about it.  Hydrangea flowers were laying right over that place and when I pulled back the flowers to cut them, I found ants and aphids in the black area.

Up close you can see the black looks like oil.  It feels "wet" to touch.

Normally the leaves would still be mostly green and white (it's a variegated variety), but they are turning reddish and then falling off as they do every fall.

So, other than my tree not looking as good as it should I'm still happy with this area.  I think I need to work on drainage in this bed.  My husband suggested we divert the downspout completely out of the bed and then I think I may need to remove some of the heavy clay soil and try and amend with more compost.  The tree has been here for about 6 years and replaced a Vine Maple that literally tipped over one day.  Now that I look back I have a feeling it was because of the poor drainage in this soil that caused it's death.  If anyone has any ideas on what the problem could be I'd love to hear.  The large Japanese Maple on the other side of the house is losing a few leaves, but otherwise looks good.
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30 comments:

  1. Oh Catherine, I'm sorry your tree is sick, I love Japanese Maples. As you're seeing symptoms on the main trunk, I'd be concerned about a more serious systemic disease like a canker or verticillium wilt. If the tree is valuable to you, you can consult with a certified arborist, at least for a diagnosis and prognosis. Large maples are obviously expensive to replace, but even if you lose this tree, I'd be hesistant to plant another in its place without an accurate diagnosis of the problem. Crossing my fingers it's not too serious!

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  2. I have to agree with CVF that there is something seriously wrong with this tree and you might need to call in a professional. It sure does not look good with that weepy stuff that might be a fungus or something. I don't know but I hope it gets well and recovers!

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  3. Oh dear, your two previous commenters are probably right; I don't have any diagnosis or solution to add.

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  4. I can only throw out ideas as I really don't know. The roots could have been disturbed, someone in the area spray something that affected it, is there a bug that you can't see under the bark, and too much water. Again, I don't know much, I am just responding to conditions that affect growth. We can't grow them here except for a couple varieties because of cold but are you getting too much heat? I hope that it just takes a break and sprouts out normally next season as if nothing has happened.

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  5. Sorry about your tree. Your hydrangeas look amazing. My hydrangea died. Is yours mostly in the shade? Does it get any sun?

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  6. Sorry about your JM Catherine. It would be sad to lose it so I hope you find a solution. I wish I had some good advice.
    I agree that everything else looks wonderful. I'm drooling over so many hydrangea blooms. I wish I lived closer, I'd try to talk you out of some so I could dry them for indoors!

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  7. If you sign up for the Home Depot gardening club, they send you coupons all the time. That's how I got the buy one get one plant! http://www.homedepotgardenclub.com/

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  8. Sorry to hear your Japanese Maple is not doing well. I don't know enough about trees to say what's wrong, but I am thinking with the moistness and poor drainage that it might be some kind of fungus. I bet that whatever killed the vine maple is also killing the Japanese Maple.

    If your drainage problems in this bed are caused by more than just the downspout, you might want to think about redoing the bed (I know, a huge undertaking!) and putting a rain garden here.

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  9. I think the tree needs some urgent help. Your hydrangias are spectacular.

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  10. Maybe the tree is drowning, could you divert the downpipe into a water butt so you could use the water in areas that need it?

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  11. We have a few large trees out in the woods that have spots like this and I don't know what causes it. I hope maybe if you re-direct the downspout, the tree will survive. It's a beautiful bed; very welcoming.

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  12. Oh, I do hope you get this checked soon Catherine. It looks pretty serious. I can imagine this is hard... for it is such a lovely tree. Your garden looks so beautiful otherwise ... love the Fuchsia and Hydrangeas. Good Luck!

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  13. What a beautiful flower bed!

    A couple of weeks ago, we had some trees cut down. The owner of the company was quite knowledgeable about trees. I pointed to a kind of black spot on a tree and asked about it. He said he'd seen it a lot and that as they've cut trees this year they've come across a lot of water in the trees. The trees need to get rid of it, and this is how. I'd never heard of that before, but we DID have a lot of rain late spring/early summer. It may well be that too much water is the problem with your maple.

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  14. Catherine I know how you feel about that tree. I have been looking at a large yew for the past few years, and it gets very yellow each year. I finally looked at my watering system spraying right on that yew, not as big scale as a tree, but I think it is the water.

    All the other yews and plantings around it look fine. I think it is just getting the most water. Good luck, a tree is a big plant to lose.

    Eileen

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  15. Looks like there could be a 'collar rot'; I don't see a flare at the bottom of the tree...is there one there? If not it could be planted too deep; that coupled with the extra moisture from the closeness of a downspout does not allow the roots to get the oxygen they need. Also is there a fabric under the mulch? That also will keep the soil too wet not allowing the soil to dry out. I suggest having a certified arborist check the tree out to see if it can be saved.
    Hope you can save the tree...it has great character!
    Kathy

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  16. Ooh, that looks bad. Very sad. I'd definitely guess it's a canker or verticulum wilt.

    On the other hand, those hydrangeas look gorgeous!

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  17. Your hydrangeas are most impressive. Mine (in the tropics)are so puny and suffer from fungal infection.

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  18. I would have to agree with patientgardener or anonymous. My first thought was collar rot, mainly because that's the only disease I know!

    Our japanese maple does not get much water and it is absolutely full this year. Maybe diverting the downspout would help.

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  19. Good Luck with your tree! I am having a problem with my young Crimson King Norway Maple :(. Your hydrangeas look fantastic, and my poor hostas also get chomped on by slugs. :(

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  20. Thank you all for your help. I knew there were many knowledgeable people out there that could help me. After looking up many of your suggestions and finding pictures it sure sounds like Collar rot or Phytophthora. It doesn't sound too good for the tree, and I bet it was in the soil already from the previous tree that died. The poor drainage I'm sure is the main culprit. It's too bad since this is such a pretty tree and has grown so fast. I'm not giving up on it, but will see what we can do to help it.
    Thanks!!

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  21. I hope you find some help for your tree. Everything else does seem to be growing nicely, minus the slugs.

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  22. Catherine,

    I was going to say a type of root rot or crown rot but I think you may have already found the answer. It looks similar to a black rot on some of the wild cherries nearby. I hope you can do something to fix it because it's a beautiful tree in a great spot aesthetically!

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  23. That's too bad about your tree. I agree, it doesn't look good for the poor thing. Perhaps you can find a replacement that tolerates damp soil very well.
    Marnie

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  24. So sorry to hear and see your little sickie tree. Our neighbors have one doing the same thing as I look out today. I'm thinking too much rain here.... Love the hydrangeas. Always such a treat to stop by and see what your are up to in the garden.

    The Garden Bell

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  25. Oh my, it does look like it has developed a rotting disease of some sort. Maybe too wet and too much mulching.Looks serious and may not come back even if you pull some dirt away from the trunk.

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  26. I think you have found the problem with the tree. If you have to replace and do not want to move the downspout look for a tree that likes its' feet wet. Good luck, the hydrangeas are loving all that moisture.

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  27. I see you have a lot of answers from very knowledgable gardeners. I do hope you are able to save this tree as she is such a beauty and I would hate to see you loose it. Good Luck...

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  28. It's so sad when such a beautiful old tree gets sick. Wish I knew what could help. :(

    Good luck with it!
    xo Catherine

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  29. We have an Oak that is doing the same thing and has for the last 2 years..when I touch the oil it is red like blood...there is a borer worm that gets in trees....I really don't know...good luck..

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  30. Catherine, I hope the best for your tree. It would be a bummer to lose it. Your garden is really pretty...and those hydrangeas are glorious!!!

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