Help me save my new tree

Dinnerplatedahlias🌸 · May 2022

Planted a Rowan Tree Vilmorinii last summer. Unfortunately it was over watered and the leaves all dropped off it late summer. However there were lots of healthy new buds by the Autumn.

Unfortunately it has failed to break bud and leaf up. When I scratch the bark it is green underneath so not dead.

I have very heavy clay and I think the drainage may unfortunately be particularly bad where I planted it.

Do I dig it up to a better draining spot or pop it in a large pot to recover?

Or is all hope lost and it won’t recover 🥹

Many thanks

Plantminded · May 2022

I think you have pinpointed the problem correctly. These trees do not fare well in clay soil, they need good drainage and preferably slightly acidic soil. If you have another spot in your garden where the soil is free draining or can be improved, try moving it with as much of the rootball as you can and it should recover - you have found that there is green live tissue under the bark, so there's hope! It really won't like being in a pot for any length of time, only as a temporary measure. I have one in my garden but it is on a bank in free draining sandy soil.

Dinnerplatedahlias🌸 · May 2022

Thank you so much ☺️ I’ll move to a better draining site and cancel the pot option.

If you have any suggestions on small trees that would cope in this part shade spot I am all ears

Borderline · May 2022

What makes you think over-watering caused the issues? Planting the tree in the summer will have been pretty stressful for the tree. I would think it's pretty unlikely you over-watered it. In fact, you would need to water generously throughout last year to keep it going. Young trees are vulnerable to lack of water, and if your tree suffered, it's more likely from water-log in winter wet, but not from your over watering last year.

Re-plant it, with the soil well prepared. Keep watering every 3-4 days and water generously. If nothing by June/July, it's dead.

I think your tree had been under watered. Obviously, the soil condition doesn't help, but clay soils in summer can also cause extreme cracking which also causes the roots to dry up, so try to create a condition where the roots can grow into. Once they've established 2-3 years down the line, the tree can deal with clay base soils.

Fairygirl · May 2022

If the soil is clay and doesn't drain well, that will be problematic. Clay itself isn't. They grow extremely well in it.

Rowans cope with loads of water, but if they're sitting in waterlogged soil, that's entirely different. The native ones cope better - the cultivated varieties are less tolerant. As @Borderline says - it's more likely to have been winter conditions that would have been the problem, rather than last summer. Dropping foliage early is a sign of stress, and that's usually lack of water.

Plantminded · May 2022

I'm not sure that this tree would grow extremely well in the soil described by @Dinnerplatedahlias🌸 as very heavy clay. Over watering would have made the soil deplete of oxygen, thus harming development of the root system and the establishment of the tree. According to RHS guidelines, clay is not a recommended soil for this variety of Sorbus.

Sorbus vilmorinii|Vilmorin's rowan/RHS Gardening

Fairygirl · May 2022

Sorry - but that really isn't accurate. I think @Dinnerplatedahlias🌸 is in roughly the same neck of the woods as I am, and they're fine here. It's largely neutral, to slightly acidic clay soil here.
My sister also has one - it's been in situ for around thirty years. She's across the other side of Scotland, but also has clay soil.

Plantminded · May 2022

Although you may live in a similar area, localised differences can exist within very short distances. From previous discussions, I'm pretty sure that you will have improved your soil with plenty of organic matter @Fairygirl and are not growing this particular variety of Sorbus in very heavy clay.

I grow both Sorbus vilmorinii and Sorbus aucuparia on free draining sandy soil in identical situations. S. vilmorinii is definitely a more delicate tree, starting later in the year to leaf, flower and set fruit.

RHS guidelines are widely accepted as accurate. Although they don't include clay as a recommended soil for this tree, that doesn't mean that this variety won't grow in clay - it just grows better in free draining soil.

I'm sure that the tree would have been better able to cope in improved clay soil. Starting the tree off in very heavy clay and overwatering it would have hampered its establishment for the reasons previously stated.

Dinnerplatedahlias🌸 · May 2022

Thanks for all the wonderful feedback guys 💜

You know I added bags of John Innes compost and a fair bit of grit but yous are right the conditions are just too wet for it. I’m going to shortly get it in a different spot and hopefully it will survive as it’s a beautiful tree.

I’m currently researching another tree for this tricky spot and I’m leabing towards an Amelanchier. Love the look of Robin Hill but not sure if this will like the wet clay as much as Lamarcki.

I’ll keep you all posted 🙂

Fairygirl · May 2022

If you think the drainage was particularly poor in that spot @Dinnerplatedahlias🌸 then don't plant anything until you've amended it well enough. I wouldn't bother with grit anyway - it's rarely worthwhile unless you're adding tons of it. Rotted manure is better for improving soil.
The fact that you have plenty of other shrubs/plants doing well there though, suggests the opposite. Last year was ridiculously dry up here, and stress caused by dryer soil causes early leaf drop, which is what you described. Highly unlikely that the border is waterlogged, looking at the other plants you have. I agree with what @Borderline said earlier. The soil here rarely cracks though, whether it's been improved or not, but there may have been a few instances last summer. The vast majority of Scotland is on clay. Especially right across the central belt. I wouldn't have had a clue about improving soil when I started gardening seriously. My sister certainly didn't. She dug holes and plonked stuff in.

Amelanchier will be fine though - any of them.

Help me save my new tree

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