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young fruit trees #752426

Asked May 26, 2021, 9:38 PM EDT

last year I planted 3 fruit trees, all about 4 1/2 tall. I took great care of them all last year and into the Spring. They are all dead. This isn't the first time this has happened. One of them is sprouting shoots out from around the base. Will this grow into a fruit bearing tree & will the fruit be any good? Why are my young trees dying? I water them (almost) daily, and gave them root starter to help them grow. They look great all last summer & fall.

El Paso County Colorado

Expert Response

I also have a 4 year old peach tree, that just didn't come back this year.  It's just dead.  In other years it would produce an abundance of fruit.  

The Question Asker Replied May 26, 2021, 9:54 PM EDT

Hello,

I am sorry to hear that your fruit trees are dying.

There could be a couple of different issues going on.

One- the planting depth may have been too deep- here is information on proper tree planting: https://cmg.extension.colostate.edu/Gardennotes/633.pdf

Two - it wasn't clear to me from your question whether you watered over the winter.  Newly planted trees especially need watering every month or so in the winter.

Three- were the trees a hardy variety for Colorado? We had a severe cold snap in February, and any trees that were marginal may not have survived. Young trees are also more susceptible to cold snaps. You can help them by mulching around the roots (but don't pile it near the tree).  

The suckers you see are probably from the root stock, and not the tree you planted. Suckers will never grow to be a structurally sound tree.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 02, 2021, 11:54 AM EDT

Another possibility - was any herbicide sprayed anywhere near the trees?  Possibly a weed and feed in the lawn?

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 02, 2021, 3:36 PM EDT

Finally, one more possibility.  If you have clay soil, you may have been watering the trees too much.  Waterlogged soil can weaken the roots and reduce oxygen.  Only water when the soil is dry to a depth of 2 inches, and then water deeply.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 02, 2021, 3:41 PM EDT
Thank you for your advice.   I've attached 2 pictures.  As you can see, the "rear" tree, which is 5 years old died too.  
I DO have clay soil.  Thank you for your advice on watering with clay soil in the picture.  Do you think the stuff called "clay buster" would be helpful to add when I plant new trees?
Also, i just realized that these trees (planted in a row), are almost directly over my sewer line from the back of my house to the alley, where the sewer main is.  Could that have an effect on the trees?
Thanks for your help,
Ann



From: Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Wednesday, June 2, 2021 12:41 PM
To: ann marie spear <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: young fruit trees (#0022357)
 
The Question Asker Replied June 02, 2021, 4:52 PM EDT

Hello,

I don't think the sewer line is the issue, unless there is a leak.

I think I can see that one tree was a Bing Cherry - sweet cherries don't tend to do that well in Colorado. Pie cherries such as Montmorency are more reliable.  I don't know about the other trees, because I can't see them, but there may a hardiness issue.  Not many peach trees are hardy enough to do well here, and we did have a very deep freeze in February that did get to almost 17 below zero - so any marginally hardy tree may have died.

I do think the trees also may be planted too deep, and that in combination with perhaps overwatering a clay soil could be weakening the roots, which would decrease hardiness.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 02, 2021, 5:33 PM EDT

Okay...I'll search out the Montmorency trees you spoke of, and not plant them to deep.  

Can I use clay buster to mike in with the clay based soil I have now in  my yard?

The Question Asker Replied June 02, 2021, 5:38 PM EDT

You could try clay buster, but proper planting depth and proper watering will go much further to correct the problem.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 02, 2021, 5:57 PM EDT

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