Rowan tree not leafing

chicken chaser · June 2022

I bought a decent sized Rowan tree a couple of years ago, last year it leafed out but then by August was showing signs of leaf drop. By September it was pretty bare. It was a fairly wet August so thought it might be down to the weather. It grew buds over winter but this year it's not leafed out at all. In April, I dug around the soil and found it hadnt rooted out into the surrounding soil. It's largely heavy clay so soaked it, lifted it out of the soil and then pulled out some of the roots from the root ball, widened the hole and mixed in some compost with the natural soil. I've replanted but it's still not leafed out. Scraping back the bark it's still green inside and the buds haven't dropped off.

Any ideas on what I should do with it? Should I replant into a pot and see if it takes off? I find it hard to believe it wouldn't take the soil given that the rest of the garden is in the same stuff and it's a busy garden full of different plants. Rowan's grow on mountain sides so they surely can't be that fussy!

Fairygirl · June 2022

You've dug it up and replanted it, so it won't suddenly start thriving, especially if it wasn't properly established to start with. It takes months for any shrub or tree to establish.

However, if it's sitting in a sump, it won't thrive either.
Yes- they grow on moorland and the lower slopes of hills [not above a certain height for obvious reasons] but they also need some drainage. It's also completely different when you're planting something as opposed to it seeding naturally and acclimatising.

punkdoc · June 2022

Sorry to say, but if it hasn't leafed by now, it is likely to be dead, or nearly so.

Fairygirl · June 2022

Yes - if there was nothing growing properly there when it was dug up, it's highly unlikely to be very lively.
A photo would help determine that.

Rowan tree not leafing

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