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Verticillium wilt? - Cercis canadensis

nick.kontounick.kontou Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Good afternoon. We had a very healthy young Cercis tree a couple of weeks ago - until I mulched the garden with a mushroom compost. Ever since, it has started to deteriorate. The tree was planted in October 2021. By chance, I have a picture of the tree taken on 17th August this month just before I mulched where everything is fine. However, two weeks later, it is not. The leaves are dying and dropping. A google search would seem to suggest Verticillium wilt, although there is no discoloration under the areas of bark that I have removed. Could this be the case or maybe it is a reaction against the compost, although no other plants in the garden seem to be suffering? I would welcome any feedback. Many thanks 

Posts

  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Not usually found in young trees, though. Drought maybe?
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    You can't diagnose VW just from the leaves.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

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  • nick.kontounick.kontou Posts: 3
    Palustris said:
    Not usually found in young trees, though. Drought maybe?
    It survived last years 40 degrees and it has had plenty of rain this year, so I doubt it as everything else in the garden is fine.
  • nick.kontounick.kontou Posts: 3
    punkdoc said:
    You can't diagnose VW just from the leaves.
    Any other suggestions?
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    We have supposedly had plenty of rain this year, but I have lost quite a few things to drought. The rain at times has been so hard that it has just run off without soaking in so the sub-soil is still dry.
    Have you had some really cold nights?  Some of our trees are beginning to go into early autumn mode.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I don't know what it may be, but I'm pretty certain that VW would not have such a dramatic effect in such a short period of time. It's a disease that progresses slowly. I have an acer with it.
    With VW you should see black marks that look like bruises on young branches (this year's growth) and small clusters of dead leaves on branches that also have plenty of healthy leaves.

    Was the mushroom compost well-rotted? If not it can contain some quite strong ingredients that may have an adverse effect.
    I use mushroom compost often in my garden and I generally leave it to mature for several months before using it.
    Some mushroom composts can be very alkaline too (you may find small lumps of chalk in it) which can affect the uptake of nutrients.
    Sometimes it is blended with poultry manure which, when fresh, can burn roots due to the urea content.
    I know your other plants are OK, but maybe the Cercis is a bit more sensitive in that respect.

    It may be none of the above - but just thought I'd throw in some ideas.


    Billericay - Essex

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