Are these trees dead?

treeguru wannabe

I had two ash and a bur oak tree that were planted last spring leave up this spring, and then lose their leaves and they look dead now. Does anyone know how this could happen, or why, and if they could be dead? We've had a good spring with rain, so I'm confused.

Thanks!

treeguru wannabe

One thing to add....Can putting fertilizer spikes too close to the root ball kill the tree? I think they called for 24 inches, and I may have put some closer, like 12 inches.

Thanks.

dov

Take a knife and scrape the bark a bit. If it's green underneath, they're alive, if it's brown, pull them up and start again.

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Therrin

Done it

If you are in Wi, have a look here.

Emerald Ash Borer

This might be better.
http://www.emeraldashborer.info/files/E-2938.pdf

TreeSpecialist

Define "good rain."

Newly planted trees need water every 2 or 3 days.

What they never need are salty tree spikes - that product can and does kill small trees and is practically worthless when it comes to large trees.

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treeguru wannabe

We have had consistent rain just about every week this spring/summer so far. .5 inch or better per week.

Well, these trees were planted last spring, so they have been in the ground a year now. Is that considered 'newly planted' still? The rest of the trees that I haven't mentioned here or in that other thread you saw have been treated the same way with watering, and they are fine.

You don't believe in tree spikes for fertilization? ...or are you just talking about a certain kind?

treeguru wannabe

I'll take some pics this weekend and post them. They look right now the way they would look in the middle of winter. No leaves.

treeguru wannabe

Yes, being from WI I'm pretty knowledgeable on the emerald ash borer. These ash trees are supposed to be immune to the disease though, from what I was told. Also, this not only happened to a couple ash trees, but to one of my bur oaks too. Actually the oak hardly even leaved this spring. It has maybe two or three very tiny leaves on it right now. That's it.

treeguru wannabe

I'll do that. But, if it's still green, what would cause them to either leave and then lose their leaves, or to not even hardly leave at all? Like I said, my bur oak has just a few tiny leaves on it and that's it. It never did fully leave this summer. My neighbor has a couple ash trees also that were planted the same time as mine, and his did the same thing...Leaved this spring then lost their leaves and look dead.

treeshaveneeds

Most tree spikes are worthless -- they make you feel better --doing something for the tree -- than any benefit for the tree. Bonemeal, bloodmeal, potash and liquid seaweed work far better.

Pics with leaves are best, but even without leaves, take closeups of the shoot tip growth for the top 1 to 1 1/2 ft of growth. WIth luck the annular rings will show, and an idea can be formed for the amount of growth achieved, and the number and size of buds (include a reference for scale, like a ruler or a quarter).

If possible dig a soil pit, about 1 1/2 ft deep and take a picture of the soil strata.

And what kind of soil did the trees come with?

And which variety of ash do you have that is supposed to be resistant to Emerald Ash borer?