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virginia plum leaf problems

Last post 09-07-2008 12:41 PM by bogweevil. 1 replies.

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  • 04/07/2008 04:43 PM
    • martin
    • Horton Heath Hampshire
    • 04 Jul 2008
    • 1
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    help - I have a tree about 2 years old, having plantged it into the soil from a container this May.   Last year the leaves were decimated by greenfly, but this year we had a great crop of vibrant bright green leaves.

    They have now turned into tough leaves of a dull green/olive colour, with some having small brown spots, some new leaves curling with brown edges, some with holes and little new growth.  It gets watered often and is covered with wood bark as a mulch  and we have fed if with bone meal when planting and Mircale Grow recently.   There are no obvious pests - it just does not look as good as it did in may

     

     

  • 09/07/2008 12:41 PM
    Top 10 Contributor
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    Planting a tree in May is deeply unwise.  The poor thing won't have time to get any roots out into the soil before summer weather arrives and it is very difficult to keep that rootball moist but not soggy.  And if you have clay soil your troubles will be much worse.

    With any luck the lovely rain we are having at the moment will do the job, but you should use your trowel to check that the roots are properly moist.

    If it looks as if you cannot keep it going, lift it, soak it if necessary and re-pot, planting again in the autumn. It will take several years to root into the soil so you will need to check the water situation until it finally takes off.

    It sounds as if you had it in a pot for some time and under these circumstances you might well find it so root bound that you need to brutally break the roots to encourage new ones to form that will explore the soil.

    Bone meal probably decreases chances of successful establishment.

    Miraclegro is probably unnecessary and may be harmful if over used

    Adding mulch in May merely ensures any summer rain will find it hard to soak in - mulch in Feb to lock in the last of the rain.

    I hope you maage to save it.

     

    Boggy

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Beware the bat-eared bogweevil