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Newly planted Nordmann Fir brown and pale needles

theend00theend00 Posts: 48
in Problem solving
Hiya ! I've planted a Nordmann Fir tree last Christmas about January and it had very healthy foliage . The ground is very loamy well draining woodland soil but is around other trees. I don't know if the brown and paler needles which have appeared recently are caused by sun damage or something more serious. I'd appreciate any advice you can give ! Thank you 

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    How much root did it have? Was it pot grown or just a dug up plant?
  • theend00theend00 Posts: 48
    It had quite a good amount of root , so much I had to cut the pot open to get it out. I don't know for certain it was grown in the pot for the entire time but it must have been there a while at least. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Was it well soaked before planting?
    There's a lot of competition around it, so it would have needed plenty of watering for several months until established,  especially in dry spells.  If it wasn't thoroughly damp on planting, it may have struggled a bit. They don't like being dry for long periods.
    A mulch around it would have helped to retain that moisture as well. Bark or similar.
    It doesn't actually look that bad in the last photo.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • theend00theend00 Posts: 48
    Oh it was practically flooded when I first planted. Liverpool got very heavy rain in Jan and Feb but it has been much milder in March. D: I became careless it seems ! I hope I haven't ruined it ! 
    As for the competition , I suppose there is always the nuclear option . Should I move it again or just persist ? 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Do you mean it was just planted a couple of months ago? I thought you meant last year.
    I wouldn't move it then. It'll still be establishing - it takes quite a long time.  :)
    It may have been the opposite - it may have been a bit waterlogged. They're quite shallow rooted, but it should even out over the next few months. They need moisture but also need good drainage, and a decent enough soil to grow in. 
    These kinds of things can be hit and miss, which is why they're planted in huge numbers when being grown as a crop. They prefer a neutral to slightly acidic soil, which is why they do well up here.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • theend00theend00 Posts: 48
    Yeah sorry that's my bad! It has been there only a couple months. The soil it's growing in is black and crumbly  Foxgloves and forget me nots invade it most of the time. The soil seems to drain pretty well as puddles soon vanish like 5-10 seconds ish. I don't really know how much water it should be getting really say per week. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Watering is impossible to advise about with any accuracy.
    If you consider that in the kind of damp, cooler areas they grow best, they're getting water most days, even in summer, that gives you an idea, but they're not often growing in among perennials - they're usually among other trees, so the take up of water is less per plant. That's why the drainage also has to be good if they aren't in that kind of site. You'll have to judge it by just checking on it, and seeing that it isn't drying out.  
    When you water, make sure it's a proper watering, not a sprinkle. A full watering can every few days, unless there's a couple of hours of adequate rainfall, would be the rough guide.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • theend00theend00 Posts: 48
    Alright then 😊 I'll do just that and I'll keep an eye on it and be vigilant with dry spells. I admit I didn't really know too much about them even when planting it, it was really the first time we have had a Christmas tree with roots so I thought I'd give it a go ! 

    That's interesting to know. I'd have presumed if it was surrounded by other trees it would be fighting to get enough. I thought it would easily be able to handle small perennials :O  
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Bear in mind that when they're planted as a crop, they aren't that size, so they acclimatise and adapt, and they're mainly grown in those damper, cooler environments which ensures they get enough moisture initially, and that makes it easier to establish them. It's completely different from planting something that's a lot bigger.  :)
    Even without any planting around it at all, you'd need to ensure it's getting enough if it's sunny, and the site is well draining, in order to get it established. I can't tell from here what the conditions are like, so you'll have to judge it yourself and water accordingly until it's thriving of it's own accord. 
    Because I thought you'd planted it a year ago, I was concerned that it had been too dry for a long while, but as you clarified that it was recent, that should make it easier, and it should come away as long as it doesn't get dried out for long periods.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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