Condition of Hackberry tree - Ask Extension
Fall if 22 this tree was planted. Midsummer if 23 it lost all its leaves. It had been watered well. Nursery advised to check soul around the ball. We ...
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Condition of Hackberry tree #869373
Asked May 20, 2024, 10:02 PM EDT
Fall if 22 this tree was planted. Midsummer if 23 it lost all its leaves. It had been watered well. Nursery advised to check soul around the ball. We found heavy wet clay and we replaced the top foot of clay with compost/soil. It started to leaf out 2 weeks ago. What does it need?
Washington County Minnesota
Expert Response
https://extension.umn.edu/trees-and-shrubs/common-hackberry
Your tree should be a good choice for your location. Is there a lot of foot traffic creating compaction under the tent that is over the root zone? Grass is a big competitor for water and mulching around the tree out to the edge of the root zone could help. Your tree really isn’t established yet. It was planted 2 years ago and the roots were disturbed last year. It needs time to make new roots. Make sure it gets an inch of water per week this summer and check to see if it needs water before watering. Do not fertilize it and keep lawn fertilizer away from its root zone.Do not use a lawn weed killer on its root zone. Hopefully this year’s weather will favor your tree and it grows strong roots.
Your tree should be a good choice for your location. Is there a lot of foot traffic creating compaction under the tent that is over the root zone? Grass is a big competitor for water and mulching around the tree out to the edge of the root zone could help. Your tree really isn’t established yet. It was planted 2 years ago and the roots were disturbed last year. It needs time to make new roots. Make sure it gets an inch of water per week this summer and check to see if it needs water before watering. Do not fertilize it and keep lawn fertilizer away from its root zone.Do not use a lawn weed killer on its root zone. Hopefully this year’s weather will favor your tree and it grows strong roots.
Thank you. Do we trim off the branches that show no leaf growth this spring? And the ones below along the trunk?
The dead limbs can be pruned off, I would wait 2 weeks because it is still early in the year and they may be slow to leaf out. The sprouts on the main trunk can be pruned off.
