[Arid_gardener] Jacaranda

Wed Jul 14 16:25:15 MST 2004

Dear Jason,
Give the tree a chance.
Change the support to two or three poles about one foor apart with a rope tied between them. Let the tree slop around inside. Keep it in place until the tree does not move from one side to the other in a good wind storm - it may take two years - but it will develope a strong trunk and will end up a great tree.
Regards
Steve
(not a master Gardener)

Linda Drew <drew_linda at hotmail.com> wrote:

Hi, Jason

Thanks for the detailed information! It really helps.

If a tree cannot stand on its own when the nursery stake
is removed, the professional opinion is to get rid of the
tree. The wood is weak and is unlikely to be able
to recover.

Here is what you are looking for:
"Select plants that look healthy -- good tissue color,
absence of insects and tissue damage -- and that do not
flop around when gently shaken. Look for good branching
structure in trees. Be sure the tree does not bend to
an extreme angle when the nursery stake is removed.
If possible, choose smaller trees with small branches attached
along the lower trunk. Be sure that the tree's main stem tapers
toward the top (decreases in diameter). Look for a well-
developed root system that is not root-bound. Large plants
in small containers should be avoided. Good root system
development is more important than plant size."

All that being said, I'm copying this back to the list for comments.
Gardeners are notorious for loving a challenge and there may be
some strategies for dealing with this tree that was forced
to grow in an unnatural and unhealthy was for market.

Linda Drew
Master Gardener

>From: Jason Chinn 
>To: "Linda Drew" 
>Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Jacaranda
>Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2004 20:05:47 -0700
>
>Hi,
>
>The tree was staked when I purchased it, and I left the nursery stake in 
>for 4 months. When I put in standard stabilizing stakes I was shocked as 
>the tree was happily able to bend all the way to the ground with no damage.
>
>The tree had very little taper when I bought it, and now at 7 feet it still 
>has very little taper. There were very little to no branches from the base 
>to the crown, and the branches that it did have now turned yellow and lost 
>their leaves. The new growth has lush branches and an incredible 18 inch 
>blossom cluster at the very top, where you expect the tree to grow. It is 
>more like I have a giant Jacaranda branch than a tree.
>
>I have been watering it 3 times a week. I have fertilized it several times 
>with Miracle Grow. As for pruning, it never grew out but only up, so I 
>never did anything. The tree was somewhat pot bound, and I tried to loosen 
>the root ball on the edges to try to get the roots to grow out.
>
>The hole was dug 3-5 times the diameter of the pot, and I amended the soil 
>by mixing it with 50% Growmulch. I kept the soil level on the trunk when 
>planting the same as was in the pot.
>
>Given all of this, has this poor tree had it? Should I pull it out and 
>start again, or is there any hope?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Jason
>
>On Jul 12, 2004, at 5:50 PM, Linda Drew wrote:
>
>>
>>First, we never recommend "topping" a tree, so that
>>isn't something you need to consider.
>>
>>We need some more information from you to help discover
>>what is wrong:
>>
>>was the tree staked when you purchased it? if so, was that
>>nursery stake removed when the tree was planted? If so,
>>was the tree too weak to stand on its own at planting time?
>>were standard stabilizing stakes installed to hold it upright
>>if it couldn't stand? (we'll need specifics on how it was
>>staked if it was staked).
>>
>>Did the tree have any taper when you purchased it?
>>(the trunk at the base should be noticably thicker than
>>the trunk at 3-4 feet)
>>
>>Did the tree have side branches from the base to the
>>crown? (these are the branches that strengthen the
>>trunk of the tree)
>>
>>How are you caring for the tree since you planted it?
>>(water schedule? any fertilizing? any pruning?)
>>
>>Did you have a chance to look at the roots when the
>>tree was planted? Did you notice any dark roots or
>>roots circling the rootball?
>>
>>How was the tree planted? - hole no deeper than
>>the rootball, hole 3-5 times the diameter of the pot,
>>no amendments added to the soil, soil level the same
>>as in the container
>>
>>It sounds like the tree might have too much water and
>>nutients and is growing 'top' instead of growing the roots
>>that you want to develop in a newly planted tree -- but
>>answers to the above questions will help determine if
>>that is the case.
>>
>>Linda Drew
>>Master Gardener
>>
>>>From: jpchinn at ev1.net
>>>To: 
>>>Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
>>>Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2004 13:24:08 -0700 (MST)
>>>
>>>I planted a small 5 foot fairly well shaped Jacaranda in my yard in 
>>>January, and now in July it is over 7 feet tall with no strength in it. 
>>>The trunk has not grown wider or any growth occurred in the branches, it 
>>>has just shot up and is like a wet noodle. Why am I getting growth only 
>>>on the top, and how can I control the situation? Does the tree need to 
>>>be topped?
>>>
>>>Thanks!
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>Arid_gardener mailing list
>>>Arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
>>>http://CALS.arizona.edu/mailman2/listinfo/arid_gardener
>>
>>
>>
>

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