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Amelanchier transplant shock? Any hope?

msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
in Problem solving
We bought an Amelanchier canadensis bare root plant last Dec, potted it up and kept in our shed over the winter, then planted it to a big planter in early Apr and it was doing fine in it, produced lots of new growth. We then transplanted it to a newly cleared border on May 1, but within a week the leaves started wilting and are now turning red. It's been raining on and off and we kept it well watered once noticed the wilting. Could it be transplant shock? Is there still any remedy for it pls? Thanks!


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  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I think it will be ok but will need plenty of water right through until winter. Avoid run off and water slowly it needs to get down into the soil, use a can. 

    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Why did you keep it in a shed? They're completely hardy trees/shrubs. That really won't have done it any good, as it should just have been planted or potted and left outside somewhere with basic shelter. The poor thing will have been struggling, then happy in the pot, and now just needs to be left to establish in the ground, which will take until next year. 

    The leaves are reddish/bronze, then turn green as they mature. Just keep it watered, especially through summer, and don't be tempted to feed it. You can add compost/leaf mould etc now and then to help the soil.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    A couple of other things to think about...

    Is that a wall it's next to? What is the height of the wall and how far away from the wall is the plant? This amelanchier will eventually become a sizeable shrub / small tree - does it have enough room to grow? (height and spread indicated to both be around 4 metres) Is the tree planted in the rain shadow or too close to the footings of the wall?
    If it's too close, I'd move it asap before the roots have a chance to really settle into their new home.

    Second - have you amended the soil in any way? I have, before now, dug in a lot of well rotted organic material which was actually still a bit too 'strong' for some young plant roots. I have also used large quantities of spent mushroom compost (tends to be a bit alkaline) in a bed where I wanted to grow raspberries which (like amelanchier) prefer a neutral to slightly acid soil. Duh!🙄
    Neither of those mistakes actually killed any of the plants but they did stunt their growth for the first season. 


    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited May 2023
    Agree with @Fairygirl no feed for a struggling plant. I purchased one for a fiver last October just two twigs planted it straight away. It was slightly late into leaf but it is now doing well.
    The red leaves may be because it thinks it is autumn, it is a bit confused. Tough but must have water as said throughout this growing season and maybe next year as well if dry.
    Plants are taking longer to establish due to the strange weather patterns too. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2023
    I’m afraid you do need to move it … if needs to be at least 4ft away from that wall, preferably 5 ft. 

    Amelanchiers are not wall shrubs. 

    I would plant a climbing rose further from the wall than that.  It’s way too close.  It also looks very thirsty. 

    😊 

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





  • msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
    Thank you all for the comments! When we received it last Dec the weather was quite cold and we didn't have anywhere suitable to plant it out, so we put it in a pot and sheltered it in the shed. Did the same to some other new shrubs we received around the same time (roses, mock orange, quince, euonymus). All seem to be doing fine now planted in big planter / ground except this poor thing.

    Yes we realised that the amelanchier will eventually become quite big, but because we haven't quite decided its final position in the garden yet, and we happen to have a bit of cleared space in the border, we planted it there for now. Will it be easier to move it now or when it grows a bit bigger and more established? I don't want to shock it again....

    Will keep it well watered in the meantime and hope for the best!
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2023
    Prepare a good site and move it now … the fewer shocks the better … same as with humans 😉 

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





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I've had them growing quite happily near fences, but it depends on how you feel about it.
    We had a row of three at the last house - right up against a fence, next to a paved courtyard area.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    IMO - you're better off moving it now before the roots become established. 

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I think growing a tree against a fence .. even one 6 foot tall … is different to growing one against the wall of a building. Branches  can spread out over the top of a fence … but not over the wall of a building. 
    😊 

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





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