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Ailing Paul Scarlet

frensclanfrensclan Posts: 119
in Problem solving

I planted 2 Paul Scarlet hawthorn trees at the bottom of my garden 5yrs ago. This year all the leaves except a few at the top have dropped really early; early August and it has been bare since. Can anyone advise what I should do with them. I am guessing that they have leaf blight or something similar but I can find no advice on treatment anywhere on the internet. Any help would be much appreciated as I would hate to have to get rid of them.

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  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700

    Leaves dropping early may be signs of stress. May even be lack of water making the tree weak therefore leaves falling off very easily in drying winds. Did you noticed leaves looking deformed or having brown patches? Have a look at the bark and branches. Can you see any weeping areas or rotting areas? If you don't see any, that is a good start. If you do, it's important to prune the damaged areas off.

    You never mentioned anything about the blossoms, so I gather all seemed fine early in the season. For now, any dead leaves around the base of the trees should be removed and do not let them over winter just in case. 

    Last edited: 23 September 2017 18:06:39

  • frensclanfrensclan Posts: 119

    thanks for your thoughts Borderline. Didn't notice any problem with the leaves earlier on in the year and the bark seems fine. I don't think it can be lack of water as we live in an area of high rainfall in north Cumberland. Now that you mention it I do not recall ever seeing flowers or haws on the tree since it has been planted which is strange as the normal hawthorn in the hedgerows was full of flower and fruit. I guess I will wait till next year and keep a close eye on them. I will make sure as you suggest that I clear up any leaves lying on the ground and am toying with cutting out the crown to see if that will encourage more healthy growth lower down,

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700

    Your trees are still quite young so it's actually normal to not see flowers or haws yet. I got a bit carried away. If you see nothing on the branches it's a good sign, just remove dead leaves by winter time and see what happens next year.

  • frensclanfrensclan Posts: 119

    Many thanks for your advice, I will leave them till next year and keep a watching brief.

  • tomlinsonkeith1tomlinsonkeith1 Posts: 3
    I have 4 weeks ago planted a Hawthorne Paul Scarlett (approx 10' tall) and filled hole with well rotted manure and mixed in some blood, fish & bone mix.  The tree leaves have started turning yellow and brown and it looks a bit sick.  I thought I had watered it sufficiently - it is quite exposed when windy but has a sturdy stake.  What should I do to try and save it? 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Did you mix the manure with lots of soil ?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • tomlinsonkeith1tomlinsonkeith1 Posts: 3
    No just put the manure straight into the hole and dug it into the soil in and around the hole.  
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    First of all, autumn is on its way so it's normal for a deciduous tree to start changing colour and losing its leaves.   However, you really should have mixed the manure thoroughly with the soil and not just left a big dollop as that will be very rich and may burn the roots and also lead to waterlogging.

    I would be tempted to lift it - carefully - and re-plant after mixing things up more and adding soil to dilute the manure.   Water thoroughly before and after to reduce stress on the tree.  Scatter some microrhizal fungae directly on the roots as you re-plant.  They'll help it get established over the next few months so it can thrive.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923
    i've always been told not to 'enhance' the soil for a tree? as you want the roots to go hunting for food and water and therefore fix it into the ground,
    otherwise to root stay in the hole and what you have it a container grown plant in the ground that blows over in the first storm, unless you stake it for the rest of time.
  • tomlinsonkeith1tomlinsonkeith1 Posts: 3
    Thanks for the advice guys, I will lift it and try again with a better mix of soil.  Fingers crossed as it wasn't a cheap tree established at 10'.  Cheers. 
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