[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick Gross]

Sally, with only a few facts about your tree and its environment, such as; type of soil, drainage factors, how large a hole was dug for the root ball, number of drippers and their gallon output, their location in the basin; was it fertilized and how much and maybe a dozen other unknown factors could be effecting its growth, i.e., size of container, was it root bound, did the ball come apart when planted, other factors? 

But, based upon my own limited, amateur and off-hand experience, despite what might have been a difficult childhood, it sounds like the tree is not watered properly. This is what I would do if the tree were in my yard. It may be beyond the point of no return but I would try to salvage the two years already invested, But, if you don't see some reasonable, encouraging response in 60 days, I recommend starting over.

Take a broom handle and draw a line in the soil outlining the outer reach of its branches. Make it a circle unless it is in a corner confined by a block wall on two sides but follow the wall where it exists. A few branches may extend beyond the line but most foliage should fall inside the line that will be the center of a shallow trench that need be no more than 2 inches deep but at least 18 inches wide.

Put a hose in the trench and add water until there is a level all around in the trench. Adjust the flow to maintain a constant puddle. Check the water level frequently and adjust the flow up or down to match the rate at which the water permeates into and below the root zone carrying any accummulated salts with it. When the water has exceded three feet deep, shut it off and don't irrigate again untill the trench is quite dry two to three inches deep in the trench..

To measure water depth, use a soil probe. Get a 48" length of 1/4th inch brass rod from the hardware. File a dull point on one end and fashion a handle on the other. When you can insert the rod at least 3 feet  straight down in several places in the trench, shut off the water. I often run water like this over night but I would not excede that time. How long the pennetration takes will depend entirely on the texture and density of the soil. You want to satisfy the tree's thirst, not drown it.

Feed with Ammonnium Sulfate 21-0-0. Start with 1/2 cup now if the main stem is 3 inches thick and follow 3 times annually in March, June, and September using the amount specified on the bag according to trunk diameter.

It this tree is in a lawn area, I would remove the sod inside the drip line and replace it with any kind of mulch compatable with your landscape scheme. I don't mulch my own adult trees that fully shade their basin but I leave leaf litter in place or replace it as compost.. Grass sucks moisture and nutrients from the feeder roots. That may not be terribly harmful if compensated for but the needs of grass and trees are not very compatable. If the basin is fully shaded, grass growth is handicapped and not, however, difficult to discourage.

Any enlightenment or friendly dispute of any of the above is welcome. Learning by trial and error is more costly but more enduring than book or instructural learning either of which may be contrary to environmental factors or the product in misinterpreted observations. A corporate intelligence that digests and absorbs a wide range of knowledge is closer to, but not necessarily, truth.

It would be nice if Master Gardener volunteer squads were positioned to investigate and document problems like this one.

Dick Gross,  Master Gardener volunteer
U of A Maricopa County Cooperative Extension








------ Original Message ----- 
From: <sallyhy at qwest.net>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 8:48 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Sally Hynes
> 85302
> sallyhy at qwest.net
> 
> I planted a grapefruit tree two years ago and it hasn't done well.  No fruit has developed beyond a small ball that drops off.  There are not many new leaves.  The top branches are almost bare.  
> Now that we are in the very hot weather the leaves do not look good.  Many are yellow,including the veins.  I water it according to the recommendations. I worry about overwatering it.  I did give it some fertilizer last month,I didn't see any change for the better or worse.
> I would appreciate any advice you could give me.
> 
> Thank you,
> Sally Hynes
> 
> 
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