Witch hazel slow to leaf out - Ask Extension
My witch hazel is 4 years old. Some of the branches have no leaves on them. Other branches have leaves but they are small. It flowered beautiful...
Knowledgebase
Witch hazel slow to leaf out #868578
Asked May 15, 2024, 3:14 PM EDT
My witch hazel is 4 years old. Some of the branches have no leaves on them. Other branches have leaves but they are small. It flowered beautifully this spring/winter. What is wrong with it.
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
The branches might have winter damage. Another possibility is root problems. Are the branches without leaves dead? (No moisture if bark scraped and brittle if bent.)
Reach into the trunk and give it a little tug. Does it wiggle?
Reach into the trunk and give it a little tug. Does it wiggle?
The branches without leaves are dead. The branches with leaves - the leaves are small and starting to turn yellow. I have used mulch and fish fertilizer. I love witch hazel. When I pull on the trunk, it is solid. No wiggle. I would love to save it. There are multiple sucker's on the bottom that look great. Can I save this tree.
It is fine to cut back dead wood now. Wait to prune away anything alive.
If cold damage, all you can do is wait to see how it recovers. If the branches die, maybe it will rejuvenate from the roots. Don’t fertilize a stressed shrub because it can make vigorous new top growth at the expense of root recovery.
There could be a root problem, like one of the rots. Unfortunately there is no firm diagnosis without removing the plant. There is no treatment, either. So, I recommend you watch and wait. The suckering new branches might give you a replacement bush in a few years.
If it dies, you have a chance to dig out the tree and examine the roots. Perhaps some problems will then be evident.
I hope your plant makes it.
If cold damage, all you can do is wait to see how it recovers. If the branches die, maybe it will rejuvenate from the roots. Don’t fertilize a stressed shrub because it can make vigorous new top growth at the expense of root recovery.
There could be a root problem, like one of the rots. Unfortunately there is no firm diagnosis without removing the plant. There is no treatment, either. So, I recommend you watch and wait. The suckering new branches might give you a replacement bush in a few years.
If it dies, you have a chance to dig out the tree and examine the roots. Perhaps some problems will then be evident.
I hope your plant makes it.
Thanks so much for the advise. If yhe plant dies should I not plant a new replacement in its place?
Thanks again
Replanting advice depends on what you find when removing this one. Often there are drainage issues to fix. Other times you find root deformities, like girdling roots or twine strangling a trunk. Sometimes it’s obviously disease in the soil to consider.
I just thought to check about grafting. And it turns out that often the hybrids are grafted on a vigorous rootstock. This means if your plant regrows from suckers below the graft union, it’s not the same as what you had. “Hybrid witch hazels are generally grafted to vigorous rootstock of Hamamelis virginiana (common witch hazel, native to eastern North America). This can lead to suckers at the base of the plant if planted too deeply. Be sure not to bury the graft union. If you notice that you have different colored flowers on mature plants this is because suckers from below the graft are starting to take over the plant (and should be removed).” (Quoted source)
Could yours be planted too deep? Can you see the graft point? Can you see the natural root flare on the trunk? This slideshow is too long to study completely, but the illustrations about planting too deep are helpful.
I just thought to check about grafting. And it turns out that often the hybrids are grafted on a vigorous rootstock. This means if your plant regrows from suckers below the graft union, it’s not the same as what you had. “Hybrid witch hazels are generally grafted to vigorous rootstock of Hamamelis virginiana (common witch hazel, native to eastern North America). This can lead to suckers at the base of the plant if planted too deeply. Be sure not to bury the graft union. If you notice that you have different colored flowers on mature plants this is because suckers from below the graft are starting to take over the plant (and should be removed).” (Quoted source)
Could yours be planted too deep? Can you see the graft point? Can you see the natural root flare on the trunk? This slideshow is too long to study completely, but the illustrations about planting too deep are helpful.
