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Help with new tree please?

homing-shares0whoming-shares0w Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hello, my friend gave me a tree at the beginning of summer - I'm not even sure what type of tree it is? - I planted it in a decent sized hole with compost. I then went away with my family for 6 weeks but a friend who was kind enough to look after our house watered it and some of our other plants whilst we were gone.

We recently returned and I've noticed the leaves are curling in on themselves, some have been eaten by caterpillars and there appears to be mildew on a few.

Before I start treating it and attempting to give it some TLC could anyone help with treatments, diagnoses and what kind of tree it is, please?

Or, is it too late?

Thank you.




Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited August 2022
    I expect it hasn't had enough water over the last few months, that's what the curling leaves look like to me, trying to reduce evaporation from the leaf pores. Try giving it a really good drink a couple of times a week (a full bucket or two, poured on slowly so it soaks in). Mildew (the powdery kind at least) tends to attack plants that are too dry at the roots. I can't see caterpillar damage so I don't think that's very significant.
    As to what it is, Amelianchier springs to mind but that's only a very tentative suggestion.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited August 2022
    PS where are my manners today? Welcome to the forum :)
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • homing-shares0whoming-shares0w Posts: 2
    Hello Jenny,

    Thank you so much for responding and thanks for the welcome.

    I believe my friend only watered it once every 2 days and only using a small watering can, so hopefully you're correct. Since I've been - 5 days - I have had the hose pipe on it every evening giving it a really good watering. I saw the caterpillars on it when I first returned, there was quite a lot - 20 or so over the tree. Checking today though there were just three I could find - I've removed most of the half-eaten leaves.

    Thanks for the suggestion about what it is, I have no idea whatsoever. 

    Here's hoping some TLC will get it looking spick and span again over the next few weeks.

    Thank you!!
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