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Young Rowan

julieambujulieambu Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Hi , I wonder if anyone can help .  I have a young Rowan tree that we planted on the birth of our grandson. It did very well from small pot to larger pot , it was transplanted I Ti our raised border on our grandsons birth In July . Recently it had lost all its leaves ( which I thought was due to autumn) however I have noticed it has dropped all its little branches too 😮 any advice would be very welcome , thank you.
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Probably very dry. They need huge amounts of water. The native ones almost live in it.
    Being restricted to pots won't have been ideal, and raised beds also drain very quickly. 
    A photo would help though  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • julieambujulieambu Posts: 5
     Thank you for your reply  ,I will post a photo tomorrow 👍🏻 The raised border has ground which seems to have a clay type soil , I have a holly tree and a bottle brush in there , they do really well. Will also check how moist the soil is 👍🏻
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I think you’re not the first Rowan owner to mistake the main stem connecting individual leaflets for small branches. I seem to remember this coming up in previous autumns. The individual leaflets and their stems are the equivalent of a whole leaf and the lot fall in the autumn. 

    If you look here https://www.treeguideuk.co.uk/rowan-2/ you’ll see what I mean .., the leaflets are connecting to a central ‘rib’ and that comprises a whole leaf. 

    As the tree gets bigger the difference between the leaf stems and the branches will become more distinct. 

    Hope that helps 😊 


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





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - that's the most likely explanation @Dovefromabove   :)

    They aren't great for pots though - they need a decent sized one to stay well hydrated. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    We planted a Rowan two years ago.  A hot, dry Summer followed, and it looked awful.  I was convinced we had lost it, and almost dug it out, but we thought we would give it one more year. 

    It has survived and looks healthy, now that it is established, although growth has been modest.  Don't give up on your tree yet.   We water ours several times a week if it is very hot in Summer, although now that it is has been in the ground for 2 years, I wouldn't expect we need to do that in future.
  • julieambujulieambu Posts: 5
    Ah thank you all so much 😊 this is the first time I have been on a forum like this , and am so pleased I did . I have just taken some photos and I think the explanation given fits what has happened. Many thanks again . This little tree was sent by my Daughter for us to plant when her Son was born , she lives in London and we are in jersey CI  so this little tree means so much 🥰
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited November 2020
    You're very welcome on the forum @julieambu ... do feel free to ask away or join in and chat on one of the chat threads in the 'Potting Shed'.

    Your photos confirm that the 'twigs' that have fallen are indeed the 'central ribs' of the leaves, and not actual 'branches'.  Nothing to worry about. 😊

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





  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I agree with the others. I have a couple of young sorbus too, and they're the same. I want mine as standard trees with a length of clear trunk, so I will be gradually pruning out the lower branches as the trees grow.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Has the top of it been chopped? It looks a bit odd in that 2nd photo, or have I missed something here? 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • julieambujulieambu Posts: 5
    Hi,  no the top has not been cut.
    The tree is in moist soil , so hopefully all will be well , thank you all again 😊 will keep you posted on how the little tree does 👍🏻 Stay safe 😘
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