Newly planted tulip poplar problem - Ask Extension
I would like advice on how to save a tulip poplar. It was planted on 5/30 in a spot with clay soil and poor drainage. It became evident after the re...
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Newly planted tulip poplar problem #796083
Asked June 15, 2022, 12:43 PM EDT
I would like advice on how to save a tulip poplar. It was planted on 5/30 in a spot with clay soil and poor drainage. It became evident after the recent torrential rain storm. We noticed some leaves with brown spots and turning yellow. We were advised by the nursery to move it since it hadn't been there long. We did, and amended the soil with compost and some sand. That was 6 days ago. It has lost more leaves and many still on the tree have brown tips and are turning yellow. The buds at the growing end still look OK. Can this tree be saved? How long after giving it a new, better planting spot will it be before we see it stop losing leaves? What can we do to improve it's chances?
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
Planting/transplanting is a stressful event for trees and shrubs and it take a good amount of time and care for them to settle in.
We doubt that you are going to have long term issues with the tree if it was planted properly and is monitored and cared for (particularly watering) for the first 28-24 months in the ground.
Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) actually prefer a moist soil in full or part sun, so it may not have been necessary to move it if that area did eventually drain. Hopefully it is in a place where it can safely grow to it's estimated 70-100 feet tall and 35-50 feet wide.
For best chance of success, take a look at these pages from our website to check that you followed best practices, for
Planting Trees:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/planting-tree-or-shrub
Pay particular attention to how deeply it was planted (you should be able to see a widening or 'flare' where the trunk attaches to the roots before it goes into the ground. It shouldn't go straight in like a telephone pole. It should also have a ring of mulch no deeper than 3", kept pulled away from the trunk.
and Watering new trees:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-trees-and-shrubs
Watering when we don't get an inch of rain a week is of utmost importance, particularly as it is getting hotter. This page will help you to be sure that water is getting where it is supposed to.
The stress showing on the leaves is not terribly concerning. Just check the pages above and keep a good eye on the tree. If deer are a problem in your area, giving it a circle of metal mesh for protection is a good idea.
Christine
We doubt that you are going to have long term issues with the tree if it was planted properly and is monitored and cared for (particularly watering) for the first 28-24 months in the ground.
Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) actually prefer a moist soil in full or part sun, so it may not have been necessary to move it if that area did eventually drain. Hopefully it is in a place where it can safely grow to it's estimated 70-100 feet tall and 35-50 feet wide.
For best chance of success, take a look at these pages from our website to check that you followed best practices, for
Planting Trees:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/planting-tree-or-shrub
Pay particular attention to how deeply it was planted (you should be able to see a widening or 'flare' where the trunk attaches to the roots before it goes into the ground. It shouldn't go straight in like a telephone pole. It should also have a ring of mulch no deeper than 3", kept pulled away from the trunk.
and Watering new trees:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-trees-and-shrubs
Watering when we don't get an inch of rain a week is of utmost importance, particularly as it is getting hotter. This page will help you to be sure that water is getting where it is supposed to.
The stress showing on the leaves is not terribly concerning. Just check the pages above and keep a good eye on the tree. If deer are a problem in your area, giving it a circle of metal mesh for protection is a good idea.
Christine
