Knowledgebase
What is wrong with my elderberry bush? #322931
Asked May 18, 2016, 10:35 PM EDT
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
Thank you for attaching an image. Based on the appearance of those few leaflets,
I suspect your plants are running out of water. The existing rootball of a
newly planted shrub dries out very rapidly because the roots haven’t yet
extended into the surrounding soil. You may need to water the area of the
original rootball every day or two for a week, then every other day for the
following week, and so on. With time, you will be able to gradually
extend the interval between irrigations. In order to know when to water, stick your finger
into the surface of the rootball to determine if it is dry, moist or wet.
Another helpful tactic, especially during the first several months following planting, is to provide temporary shade to help protect your new shrubs against excessive water loss. Doing so will be important on days the temperatures soar, as they have done recently.
A tip for next time you plant, refill the planting hole with only native soil. No manure or other amendment. Further, don’t add any sort of fertilizer, including manure, until the shrubs are well-established, a year or two from now.
Good tip about omitting manure etc. when planting. Does this go for all plants, or just trees and shrubs?
The way to determine the moisture content to the rootball is
to feel it. Rainfall often fools gardeners because even a small amount will
darken the soil surface but won’t thoroughly moisten an entire rootzone.
If the top surface of the rootball is covered with soil, that additional soil
will divert the water away from the roots. Until the plant gets established,
remove any cover of soil or compost from the surface of the original root mass.
If the plant is in full leaf, rainfall often is shed beyond the area of the
rootball. Thus, you may need to water in spite of any rain that fell.
The guideline to avoid fertilizer is most important when planting a tree or shrub in an individual planting hole. However, it's useful to rake a starter dose of fertilizer into the surface of a planting bed prepared for seasonal flowers and vegetables.