Help! Newly Planted Dogwood dying!

GrowRebel

Well-Known Member
I just got a pink dogwood tree from Marc's ... I got some mircle grow tree and srub mix ... it was supermoist ... I followed directions when I planted it ... I watered it the next day and used some superthrive ... that was last Tuesday ... I watered again Thrusday ... Saturday when I got home the most of the leave where wilted and dried out!
... I don't understand it!
I did everything I knew to keep it healthy ... I even use a little paint to seal where I cut dead pieces ... I don't understand what's wrong ...
HELP
 

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Barrelhse

Well-Known Member
Could be heavy shock. They'll drop the old foliage while they work on roots and pull themselves together. If it has dead buds instead of green after 2 wks you may have a cremation in your near future. They prefer sheltered and shady, with nothing extreme by way of wind exposure, or hot sun for long hours.
 

KillerBeeZ

Active Member
he may be right, it may be too late...hard to say

It might have been the fertilizers you gave it.

After such a shock, its best to wait to give most any plant fertilizers, give a plant a good 2 weeks after such a shock before you give it fertilizers, plus water it daily (sandy soil, 2 times a day) for 2 weeks, then water it 2 times a week for the next few months... then every week for about 6 months or more.
Also, take great care in handling roots, don't wash them off unless there is dire need to do so, and be sure not to break any roots.

IF there is no help but to break a few roots (real bad idea) or you simply must wash the roots... or if it seems the plant should have more roots (maybe they were broken or stunted before you got it) then I like to sprinkle Vermiculite directly on the roots before putting it in the ground.

Keep in mind that I'm really just an amature gardener, but I've grown a few plants that everyone said were going to die and are not quite healthy... I even cloned an eggplant lol...
I never knew you could do that with those :hump:

Also if anything I said here is just plain wrong, please correct me... I'm always learning
 

Pookiedough

Well-Known Member
Should have just planted, watered, and left it alone trees don't take well to ferts until they are well settled.It might come back though or if you are feeling adventurous find a still healthy limb and try to root it.Would be a shame to lose the whole tree as they are very beautiful.
 

GrowRebel

Well-Known Member
The only thing I used was the miracle grow tree and shrub potting mix ... and some superthive ... they said you are suppose to use that kind of potting mix for trees ... I didn't use and fert other than that ...
 

KillerBeeZ

Active Member
Should have just planted, watered, and left it alone trees don't take well to ferts until they are well settled.It might come back though or if you are feeling adventurous find a still healthy limb and try to root it.Would be a shame to lose the whole tree as they are very beautiful.
you can grow dogwoods from a cutting? wow never knew that... awesome

The only thing I used was the miracle grow tree and shrub potting mix ... and some superthive ... they said you are suppose to use that kind of potting mix for trees ... I didn't use and fert other than that ...
Yeah even that might have been too much... but all may not be lost, believe it or not most trees will look horrid when they are first planted, and they generally lose a lot of leaves if not all of them, esp if they are not handled right before you got them.

You will need to give it a few weeks to know for sure if it is actually dead
 

GrowRebel

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info ... I tried my best to do it right ... they say you are suppose to use a tree and shrub potting mix ... all the leaves have dried and died ... I've only a stick now ... I will give it a chance ... I'm so upset over this ... I will never buy another if this one dies ... especially since I when all out to do what's right for it ... thanks again.
 

KillerBeeZ

Active Member
Thanks for the info ... I tried my best to do it right ... they say you are suppose to use a tree and shrub potting mix ... all the leaves have dried and died ... I've only a stick now ... I will give it a chance ... I'm so upset over this ... I will never buy another if this one dies ... especially since I when all out to do what's right for it ... thanks again.

Give it 1 week, then go and *CAREFULLY* bend the topmost branch at about a 45 degree angle (no more than 45 degrees)

if it bends and is flexible, its still alive... if it breaks, then that part is dead, try a little lower. Keep doing this every week... if the dead area continues to get lower and lower, the tree is dying... if in 3 weeks or so, it has not died on the top, then the tree will be ok
 

GrowRebel

Well-Known Member
I was advice by a grower at a garden forum to dig it up and check out the roots ... I don't know what to look for ... can anyone tell me if these roots are okay? Also I was advised to move it to a shady spot ..
 

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Chiceh

Global Mod, Stoner Chic
Hey there, just popped in and saw this. Any tree or shrub will need lots of water when first planted. Like an hour each night. I run a hose on a slow trickle/flow and just set it there and let soak for an hour for the first week. Then water twice per week for 2 weeks then once a week until looking good. The once the stress is over I give it nutes. It will drop leaves on you due to the stress, but hopefully it comes back when the roots settle. Good luck. :mrgreen::peace:
 

GrowRebel

Well-Known Member
Yeah ... that's what I'm hoping ... I was told it likes shade, but I don't have any other place with shade during Noon-3pm hours ... I had it bury too deep and hopefully that will correct the situation ... only time will tell now ... thanks ..
 

KillerBeeZ

Active Member
If the tree survives ... will I see some leaves before or by fall?

it really depends on where you live and if there is enough summer left... but for the most part unless you live in Alaska or such, you should see some new growth if its healthy enough within a couple months
 

GrowRebel

Well-Known Member
Summer is a few days away here ... my friend told me I should know by the fall whether or not it will live ... he sad the branches and trunk would die ... if it does die ... really hoping it won't ... if it doesn't then I will have to give it a lot of TLC ...
 

Chiceh

Global Mod, Stoner Chic
Keep watering it and it should over come this stress. You should see some new growth in like 3 weeks. :mrgreen::peace:
 

johnny961

Well-Known Member
Also for some reason u are supposed to dig the holes for shrubs & trees @ an angle so the roots spread around more before going straight down. + they do need alot of water when first planted for the first year. & if u do not see any green before the first frost it is gone.:peace:
 

GrowRebel

Well-Known Member
We've been getting a lot of thundershower lately ... hit and miss sort of thing ... I was going to water it yesterday, but when I checked out the soil about an inch down it was still moist ... I don't want to over water it ... besides it has no leaves what so ever so I imagine the rain that we are getting is enough to keep it moist ... I guess this fall I will know if it survived ... :?: :neutral:
 
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