My tree looks poorly! Any answers please??

carlianne · 13th August 2007, 07:33 AM

Hi all, I am new to this message board and I must say how nice it is to have a message board where hopefully I can get some advice.
I live in UK south east and have a small garden with a solitary tree in it. I think that is a cherry blossom, in the autumn and spring, it normally blossoms with beautiful pink blossom. This year, I noticed that although it blossomed this spring, it started to produce its leaves quite late. However in the last month, it has started to drop its leaves now and looks very autumnal..
What I would like to know is ...is it normal for a tree to have an "off year?"
We have lived in this house for 5 years and this is the first year that I have noticed this happening. The only thing that we ahve done to the garden is returfed it but we did that last spring and we have established grass now and the tree did not seem to suffer last year.

Any thoughts would be great, I know I have provided limited information but I dont know anything about trees at all..not even in the slightest!!

Thanks for any help offered.

carly

carlianne · 13th August 2007, 07:40 AM

.....that all the leaves on the trees are pointing down ready to fall and there are even a couple of small branches that are completely bare where they have fallen already. Some are brown and shrivelled but the majority are still green.

Ekka · 13th August 2007, 03:08 PM

There's a similar thread running here.

My Winter Flowering Cherry Tree

Yes, trees can have off years depending on conditions.

The returfing process, what was involved? Did you dig out old turf, scrape the area, add soil/sand, roll, compact etc?

Here's some information you can read regarding how soil and roots interact.

http://www.weareallabouttrees.com.au/soil.html

And just so you dont get the idea a quick fix of fertilizer might fix it perhaps have a read of this.

http://www.weareallabouttrees.com.au/fertilizing.html

The key is the turf would have had some impact. Also, watch what you spray on the turf, many broadleaf herbicides are a trees enemy.

carlianne · 14th August 2007, 01:54 AM

Hi
Thanks for reply, when we had the turf laid, all that you mentioned was done to it. Before the turf was laid, we just had a garden full of weeds which were pulled out. The soil was scrapped, a thin layer of something was laid down, the whole garden was then rolled before the turfs went down. I have never had to use any weed killer or anything on the grass.

We noticed yesterday after looking closely again at the tree trunk for any sign of anything unusual and the only thing that we noticed was that the whole tree trunk is covered in what can only be described as small "blister" like markings where the bark underneath is trying to get out. It almost looks like the tree is bursting out of itself and it gives the appearance of small yellow horizontal blister like marks all over the tree from the main trunk to the smallest twig.
Now we dont know if this is normal as we have only just noticed it becuase of the tree looking poorly, there is every possibility that these markings may be normal and been there all of its life..unfortunately I just dont know.

Hope this information helps.
Carly

Frimsley · 14th August 2007, 02:30 AM

I don't suppose you could post a photo could you?

The 'blisters' could easily be normal cherry bark, which has marked horizontal lenticles. As for the rest, I'd be suspicious of the turfing process, especially if it involved any spray off of the existing weeds.

It's also been a very odd year weather wise in the UK, as you may have noticed

People will remember the torrential rain and flooding, but the late spring was notable for drought and unusually high temperatures. This could certainly have affected a tree which was stressed anyway as a result of root loss following the turfing.

13th August 2007, 07:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
carlianne I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 3	My tree looks poorly! Any answers please?? Hi all, I am new to this message board and I must say how nice it is to have a message board where hopefully I can get some advice. I live in UK south east and have a small garden with a solitary tree in it. I think that is a cherry blossom, in the autumn and spring, it normally blossoms with beautiful pink blossom. This year, I noticed that although it blossomed this spring, it started to produce its leaves quite late. However in the last month, it has started to drop its leaves now and looks very autumnal.. What I would like to know is ...is it normal for a tree to have an "off year?" We have lived in this house for 5 years and this is the first year that I have noticed this happening. The only thing that we ahve done to the garden is returfed it but we did that last spring and we have established grass now and the tree did not seem to suffer last year. Any thoughts would be great, I know I have provided limited information but I dont know anything about trees at all..not even in the slightest!! Thanks for any help offered. carly

13th August 2007, 07:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
carlianne I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 3	I also forgot to mention.... .....that all the leaves on the trees are pointing down ready to fall and there are even a couple of small branches that are completely bare where they have fallen already. Some are brown and shrivelled but the majority are still green.

13th August 2007, 03:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,943	There's a similar thread running here. My Winter Flowering Cherry Tree Yes, trees can have off years depending on conditions. The returfing process, what was involved? Did you dig out old turf, scrape the area, add soil/sand, roll, compact etc? Here's some information you can read regarding how soil and roots interact. http://www.weareallabouttrees.com.au/soil.html And just so you dont get the idea a quick fix of fertilizer might fix it perhaps have a read of this. http://www.weareallabouttrees.com.au/fertilizing.html The key is the turf would have had some impact. Also, watch what you spray on the turf, many broadleaf herbicides are a trees enemy. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

14th August 2007, 01:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
carlianne I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 3	Hi Thanks for reply, when we had the turf laid, all that you mentioned was done to it. Before the turf was laid, we just had a garden full of weeds which were pulled out. The soil was scrapped, a thin layer of something was laid down, the whole garden was then rolled before the turfs went down. I have never had to use any weed killer or anything on the grass. We noticed yesterday after looking closely again at the tree trunk for any sign of anything unusual and the only thing that we noticed was that the whole tree trunk is covered in what can only be described as small "blister" like markings where the bark underneath is trying to get out. It almost looks like the tree is bursting out of itself and it gives the appearance of small yellow horizontal blister like marks all over the tree from the main trunk to the smallest twig. Now we dont know if this is normal as we have only just noticed it becuase of the tree looking poorly, there is every possibility that these markings may be normal and been there all of its life..unfortunately I just dont know. Hope this information helps. Carly

14th August 2007, 02:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
Frimsley I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Warwick, UK Posts: 3	I don't suppose you could post a photo could you? The 'blisters' could easily be normal cherry bark, which has marked horizontal lenticles. As for the rest, I'd be suspicious of the turfing process, especially if it involved any spray off of the existing weeds. It's also been a very odd year weather wise in the UK, as you may have noticed People will remember the torrential rain and flooding, but the late spring was notable for drought and unusually high temperatures. This could certainly have affected a tree which was stressed anyway as a result of root loss following the turfing.