Sorbus cashmiriani

Jackie · 21st May 2007, 08:23 AM

I have recently planted 2 young Sorbus cashmiriani along with a few shrubs. The ground i planted them in was completely freed of plants during a relandscaping of the garden a couple of weeks earlier. At the time the ground was treated with a weedkiller on the advice of the landscaper, in order to prevent too much regrowth of the more stubborn roots that remained. Some of the newly planted shrubs are thriving whereas some have wilted rather badly. In addition, one of the sorbus is begining to suffer, ie some leaves are discoloured and shrivelled.
Any ideas on what the problem is and how to arrest it?
The trees were planted in holes containing bonemeal, have been watered well and compost has been dug into the area.

Sean Freeman · 22nd May 2007, 05:00 AM

Hi Jackie, well it is possible but a little unlikely that the application of herbicide some two weeks before the plants were put in is having an adverse impact on their health. Try to find out just what herbicide was used then you'll have a clearer idea if it is the culprit.
I write that it unlikely because unless the person applying the herbicide was creating localised pools of poison over existing roots its residual effects however slight should have been fairly uniform throughout the bed, not what you describe. By the sounds of it you did prepare the bed well with compost, trusting that it was well broken down not still hot? The bone meal should not produce such negative effects on plant health, so it doesn't leave many other possibilities.

The Sorbus cashmiriani Kashmir mountain ash or rowan is very attractive and grows well in quite a wide range of environmental conditions. Where abouts are you UK, USA? and what has the weather been like recently? (after the plantings) The possible causes for the symptoms you describe are many, if you can post some photos of the garden bed and the plants both those growing well and those suffering, maybe we can get a better idea from those as to what ails your new garden plants.

Jackie · 23rd May 2007, 11:12 AM

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I'm not yet digital so can't post any photos. We're in the midlands of the UK and have had a mixture of sun and rain since planting. There was a spell of strong westerly winds during the time immediately prior to the degeneration process (which, since my last post, has worsened in still conditions) but the trees are held by stakes facing the wind and the area is relatively sheltered anyway. The weedkiller used was Sodium Chlorate. The saplings' lower growth is drying up and dropping off. The higher branches are unaffected, so far. The other 'fatalities' are two Erysimum and two white flowering shrubs, the name of which eludes me. One of the trees is less affected than the other and this stands 6 metres away on slightly lower ground. Two Virginia creepers are unaffected as are several conifers. A Cordyline that stands between trees is thriving as are several Pieris japonicas.

Sean Freeman · 23rd May 2007, 01:28 PM

Hi Jackie, I'll try to give you some info based on general interpretations, be aware that my quesses may be off the mark. I'll attach a PDF on Sodium Chlorate, not sure why they chose to use it, there are less potentially damaging products, note esp the info on page 3; persistence in soil and ground water.

SodiumChlorate.pdf

The symptoms you describe relate to a breakdown in the connection between roots and leaves, this could be caused by physical damage/problems in the roots, stems or leaves themselves. The physical problems could be caused by biological agents ie fungi, insects etc... or abiotic factors ie; damage to roots before/during planting, damage to stems etc.

Now since the symptoms appear to be affecting a wide range of plants, different species and different locations in the bed, it is unlikely (but not impossible) that it relates to poor planting technique. It is also unlikely that is being caused by damage to stems you should be able to see that yourself.
My quess is that the Sodium Chlorate was still active in areas of the bed when the plants were put in, and this has resulted in the damage. If this is the cause the rainfall you have experience should have leached the remainder from the soil, additional watering may help to speed this up, but it may not save your plants it all depends on how much of the root system has been dessicated by the salt. As I say this is my best quess based on your descriptions..additional watering to leach the remainder from the soil profile is all you can do, beyond pulling the plants and inspecting the root ball to seee if you can identify "burnt" areas. I could be wrong and it could be another cause (fungi, insect, physcial damage) but they should be more obvious. Try watering in a very dilute solution of fish emulsion and seaweed extract every day for a week, a watering can for each affected plant, if things are still getting worse pull one of the affected plants up and carefully inspect the roots. (Obviously before that carefully inspect the stems and foliage).

21st May 2007, 08:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jackie I'm new here so be nice Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2	Sorbus cashmiriani I have recently planted 2 young Sorbus cashmiriani along with a few shrubs. The ground i planted them in was completely freed of plants during a relandscaping of the garden a couple of weeks earlier. At the time the ground was treated with a weedkiller on the advice of the landscaper, in order to prevent too much regrowth of the more stubborn roots that remained. Some of the newly planted shrubs are thriving whereas some have wilted rather badly. In addition, one of the sorbus is begining to suffer, ie some leaves are discoloured and shrivelled. Any ideas on what the problem is and how to arrest it? The trees were planted in holes containing bonemeal, have been watered well and compost has been dug into the area.

22nd May 2007, 05:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,645	Hi Jackie, well it is possible but a little unlikely that the application of herbicide some two weeks before the plants were put in is having an adverse impact on their health. Try to find out just what herbicide was used then you'll have a clearer idea if it is the culprit. I write that it unlikely because unless the person applying the herbicide was creating localised pools of poison over existing roots its residual effects however slight should have been fairly uniform throughout the bed, not what you describe. By the sounds of it you did prepare the bed well with compost, trusting that it was well broken down not still hot? The bone meal should not produce such negative effects on plant health, so it doesn't leave many other possibilities. The Sorbus cashmiriani Kashmir mountain ash or rowan is very attractive and grows well in quite a wide range of environmental conditions. Where abouts are you UK, USA? and what has the weather been like recently? (after the plantings) The possible causes for the symptoms you describe are many, if you can post some photos of the garden bed and the plants both those growing well and those suffering, maybe we can get a better idea from those as to what ails your new garden plants. __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

23rd May 2007, 01:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,645	Hi Jackie, I'll try to give you some info based on general interpretations, be aware that my quesses may be off the mark. I'll attach a PDF on Sodium Chlorate, not sure why they chose to use it, there are less potentially damaging products, note esp the info on page 3; persistence in soil and ground water. SodiumChlorate.pdf The symptoms you describe relate to a breakdown in the connection between roots and leaves, this could be caused by physical damage/problems in the roots, stems or leaves themselves. The physical problems could be caused by biological agents ie fungi, insects etc... or abiotic factors ie; damage to roots before/during planting, damage to stems etc. Now since the symptoms appear to be affecting a wide range of plants, different species and different locations in the bed, it is unlikely (but not impossible) that it relates to poor planting technique. It is also unlikely that is being caused by damage to stems you should be able to see that yourself. My quess is that the Sodium Chlorate was still active in areas of the bed when the plants were put in, and this has resulted in the damage. If this is the cause the rainfall you have experience should have leached the remainder from the soil, additional watering may help to speed this up, but it may not save your plants it all depends on how much of the root system has been dessicated by the salt. As I say this is my best quess based on your descriptions..additional watering to leach the remainder from the soil profile is all you can do, beyond pulling the plants and inspecting the root ball to seee if you can identify "burnt" areas. I could be wrong and it could be another cause (fungi, insect, physcial damage) but they should be more obvious. Try watering in a very dilute solution of fish emulsion and seaweed extract every day for a week, a watering can for each affected plant, if things are still getting worse pull one of the affected plants up and carefully inspect the roots. (Obviously before that carefully inspect the stems and foliage). __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

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23rd May 2007, 11:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jackie I'm new here so be nice Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2	Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I'm not yet digital so can't post any photos. We're in the midlands of the UK and have had a mixture of sun and rain since planting. There was a spell of strong westerly winds during the time immediately prior to the degeneration process (which, since my last post, has worsened in still conditions) but the trees are held by stakes facing the wind and the area is relatively sheltered anyway. The weedkiller used was Sodium Chlorate. The saplings' lower growth is drying up and dropping off. The higher branches are unaffected, so far. The other 'fatalities' are two Erysimum and two white flowering shrubs, the name of which eludes me. One of the trees is less affected than the other and this stands 6 metres away on slightly lower ground. Two Virginia creepers are unaffected as are several conifers. A Cordyline that stands between trees is thriving as are several Pieris japonicas.