[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick]

Are you watering at least weekly to the dripline to a depth of at least 3 
feet. Sounds a bit like water stress possibly related to the present heat 
wave.  In its pot, the entire root mass is drenched. Try to determine the 
source of its stress by deduction and correct it.

I have never had a willow acacia but understand the species to be somewhat 
immune to abuse.

If the drainage is poor, a water table could build up in the hole 
suffocating feeder roots.

If transpiration exceeds the ability of feeder roots to replace that loss of 
moisture through leaf stomata, wilt is immediate but, unless leaf cells 
collapse beyond the point of no return, recovery should be as quick when 
water is replenished.

I would hope that Master Gardeners with greater acumen  than mine will 
either support or dispute this analysis so that we can all learn. It is a 
critical topic in this desert.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
University of Arizona Maricopa County
Cooperative Extension

.


---- Original Message ----- 
From: <tacarle54 at qwest.net>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 8:26 PM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


>
> 85242
> tacarle54 at qwest.net
>
> I have a new home (11 months old) that came with landscaping which 
> included a willow acacia tree, 15 gallon. It was beautiful until about 1 
> week ago when suddenly the leaves started dying and falling off. It has 
> lost about 3/4 of its leaves. I have a drip irrigation system. What can I 
> do to keep it from dying completely. I never trimed it. Is this necessary? 
> What type of care does this type of tree need. I love it and want to save 
> it.
>
>
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