Sick Sappling???

woodywq45

I live in zone 9a and have 80 Japanese Blueberry Trees planted as a privacy fence. We had them planted in April of last year. I watered them daily from April till Septemeber, gave them fertilizer right when they got planeted and then about a month ago, we used the 14-14-14 fertilizer. After August I just watered as needed 2-3 times a week and now that it is not too hot I water them 1-2 times weekly, as needed. Well most of the trees have started to turn yellow and some have completely lost their leaves. With these being evergreen trees I did not think this would happen. Are they dying? Can anyone give me some help please?

treeseer

cant help much without pictures.

check the link in my sig and read about Buying an dPlanting. poor root systems poorly planted sound like your problem.

woodywq45

I just got around to getting few pictures. Please let me know if they tell you anything???? I took few different trees.

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newguy18

where are you in florida?I'm in live oak.I have a feeling that they are planted too deep,also i recomend getting a ph test done on the soil,most county extension agents do it for free,i also think that you might have over done it on the fertilizer.The ph test will either confirm or deny that.

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old schooler

Eric Frei

Exactly what fertilizer did you put on it ... name etc?

Also, get a hand trowel and dig a small hole maybe 1' away from the trunk of a tree.

What is the soil moisture like?

Put some water in the little hole, how fast does it drain away?

Newguy18, if they were planted in only April 2008 then a lot of the roots would still be concentrated in the original soil/pot etc of what they came in. My hunch is it was some sort of potting mix and gone hydrophobic. A wetting agent should help.

The 14:14:14 fert you put down is likely a chemical fert, if the soil is hydrophobic and fine roots grew around the surface to get the water likely they also got hit with a decent dose of the fert and some burning might be going on.

So, 2 possibilities.

1/ hydrophobic and plants are drying out (dying)

2/ planted into a heavy soil and sitting in a water logged bog and drowned, however leaves show more likely dryness.

You need to find out whether to add water or not, so dig those little holes.

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newguy18

They also said they are watering them 1-2 times weekly,i'll admit we have dry,sandy soil for the most part,clay and actual dirt in some areas.My gut says either planted to deep,or over fertilization.To be accurate,we need pics of the base of the trees.

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old schooler

Eric Frei

You guys are in winter now so heat shouldn't be an issue either.

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newguy18

It was a cool 80 degrees here today,about 100 miles south its 10 degrees hotter.Although we have had a couple unusual cold fronts this year.

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old schooler

Jeff Darby

mmm...to strong a fertiliser on a fresh transplant...making it toxic.

They look to me that their frying or drowning??? What ever you do it needs to be done quickly.

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woodywq45

I am in Hernando County Florida.
I am not sure on the brand of fert. was used I had the nursery that planted the trees do it and I asked him what it was and he told me.
Our soil is part clay part sand.
I will have a PH test done Tuesday.
I dug little holes and filled with water and it disappears with in couple of minutes. I also tried to dig around the plant and it is not bone dry but it is not soaked ground either.
I appreciate your help guys. I spent way too much money to have them die out.

newguy18

cool i lived in dade city for about a month,nice area,big trees.

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old schooler

Eric Frei

Consider your location well draining then, a few minutes is fast.

Get a soil wetting agent.

Have you mulched around the trees?

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