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Help: Avondale Chinese Redbud -top leaves started turning yellow after being planted in 3 weeks ago

rolanda.woorolanda.woo Posts: 94
in Problem solving
This lovely young plant is only just about 1.5m tall. It's been planted in about 3-4 weeks ago in a spot where it receives about 2 hours morning sun and 2 hours afternoon sun. There's a fence covered with ivy about 1 meter away from it, but I did my best to remove as much ivy roots as possible before I planted it in. It's been watered everyday abundantly to help settle in. 

But since this week, it's becoming clear that the colour of top leaves are getting lighter than the rest of the plant. One of the top leaves today certainly shows sign of distress. Yet I couldn't tell if it's because of the light condition or lack of/too much water. 

Earlier on, there were also two newly grow young leaves lower down turned completely yellow, which I thought was isolated case.

It's a quite expansive investment and it took me ages to decide for going with this shrub/tree for its combined features (flower interest and low height). I would really like it to work. 

Can someone provide some insights/tips about this plant? Can I save it? - I read it doesn't like being transplanted so I hope I don't really have to move it again.

Posts

  • rolanda.woorolanda.woo Posts: 94

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited July 2022
    I think that this is the normal colour for new/young leaves ... they will darken with age.  

    If you look here you'll see the leaves shown are of a similar colour to the ones in your photo https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cercis-chinensis/

    Also here https://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/cercis-chinensis-avondale/classid.2000036885/ you will see that the younger leaves at the tips of the branches are more yellow than the older leaves. 

     :) 

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





  • rolanda.woorolanda.woo Posts: 94
    @Dovefromabove, thanks! I hope so, but what worries me is that they aren't new leaves and they had much darker hue before this week. 

    I will probably email the garden centre where I bought it to be on the safe side. Thank you though!
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    It's not unusual for containerised shrubs and trees to get yellowing leaves, or even shed some, after planting in summer time. The plant has suddenly found itself in a new microclimate and possibly having to deal with bigger fluctuations in soil moisture than it's used to. It should settle down when its roots have spread out into the soil and new leaves will be adapted to your conditions. I think you will be fine moving the plant so long as you do it before its roots have spread out significantly into the surrounding soil, it's usually better to wait until the plant's dormant though 
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • rolanda.woorolanda.woo Posts: 94
    @Loxley, thank you for the tips! Much appreciated. 

    I only read today somewhere planting in summer is not the best. Well, I can't change it now. Only hope whatever shock it's having now could be overcome eventually. 

    I got a reply from the garden centre on this. They think it looks healthy in general and just needs a good feed. I've done it today, but then started teasing myself with the dilemma of how much to water...

    I will keep an eye on it and if by autumn it looks worse, I might have to move it again...
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    I'm sure it'll be fine in the long term. I wouldn't give it any more feed though, just let it concentrate on getting it's roots down. In terms of water, I tend to prefer a really thorough deep soak every few days and let it dry out a little in the meantime, but you don't ever want to let the root ball totally dry out.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • rolanda.woorolanda.woo Posts: 94
    @Loxley, thank you! A thorough deep soak every few days sounds like the right way to go.  :)
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