Purple robe locust brown leaves

Jimnade

Hi everyone-
This is my first post -so I will shyly wear the title of newbie. Internet forums have become a very useful tool in resolving today's troubles...AND...my trees are looking forward to me getting a bit smarter.

We live in Central California...elevation 1200'. Through trial and error we have learned what trees might stand a chance of survival in our hardpacked rocky clay soil that holds water like a pot without a hole.

Our purple robe locusts have done quite well...until a month ago. We thought this was the perfect tree...and drought tolerant made it a winner. When spring approached with warm weather our trees gave us their green leaves with the purple blossoms. Shortly there after our weather turned very cold...it was like a winter storm came in. Within a few days our weather turned from 75+ to almost freezing at night. This cold weather lasted only for a few days and then we were back up to our normal temps.

Soon I noticed the green leaves were withering and then they turned brown. A couple trees have all brown leaves. Others, have brown sides...or the top section is all brown withered leaves while other sections of the tree are still green.

Could the rapid change in weather have caused this? I took pictures and will try to include them...

I thank you all in advance for any reply. Now...let me see if I can attach a picture or two.

Thank you,
Jim

Eric Frei

My word the weather can do it, quick cold snaps on new foliage.

But it's up to the trees to deal with it, give them time.

In the meantime do all you can to make them happy, you know, not too wet or dry, some mulch etc ... lay off the fertilizer though, but you can add soil conditioners like liquid blood/bone, Seasol etc.

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