3 dead trees? - Ask Extension
3 of my trees in Pueblo West have not yet produced buds, flowers, or leaves: * One 2-yr old hackberry tree; * Two 4-yr-old semi-dwarf Montmorenc...
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3 dead trees? #239938
Asked April 27, 2015, 3:17 PM EDT
3 of my trees in Pueblo West have not yet produced buds, flowers, or leaves:
* One 2-yr old hackberry tree;
* Two 4-yr-old semi-dwarf Montmorency Cherries.
All were subject to the 30-degree temperature drop last fall before losing their leaves.
The 2 cherries still have last year's brown leaves on them.
I hand-watered them this winter once a month as I usually do.
I have NOT yet fed them or "pre-treated" them for insect control this spring.
Today is April 27, 2015. How long should I wait before removing them?
* One 2-yr old hackberry tree;
* Two 4-yr-old semi-dwarf Montmorency Cherries.
All were subject to the 30-degree temperature drop last fall before losing their leaves.
The 2 cherries still have last year's brown leaves on them.
I hand-watered them this winter once a month as I usually do.
I have NOT yet fed them or "pre-treated" them for insect control this spring.
Today is April 27, 2015. How long should I wait before removing them?
Pueblo County Colorado
Expert Response
Sorry to hear about your trees. While some trees are coming back slowly this spring, others were killed by the November freeze and will not come back. It sounds like you have checked to see if the buds on these trees are swelling, but a second check is to bend the stems and see if they are still flexible or if they snap off. Dry and brittle means that the tissue is dead.
Cherries were among the species hardest hit in November. I've seen trees where one branch or the interior of the tree is still viable, but whether the tree is worth keeping is up to the homeowner.
I have been recommending that folks wait until mid May to decide if a tree is viable. But if the tree is brittle, you may as well move forward on replacement while you have a good selection at the nurseries.
You can find fact sheets about tree selection and planting on our website, www.ext.colostate.edu.
Cherries were among the species hardest hit in November. I've seen trees where one branch or the interior of the tree is still viable, but whether the tree is worth keeping is up to the homeowner.
I have been recommending that folks wait until mid May to decide if a tree is viable. But if the tree is brittle, you may as well move forward on replacement while you have a good selection at the nurseries.
You can find fact sheets about tree selection and planting on our website, www.ext.colostate.edu.
