Large Yew Rootball Transplant browning top branches
StargazersPlanet
Posts: 2
I was hoping that someone could kindly provide advice on a recent transplant of 5 x large yews from a nursery - rootballs (all around 5.4ft - 5.7ft). I planted them 2 weeks ago today and tried to follow all relevant advice, e.g. planting hole size, used Rootgrow (mycorrhizal funghi) to assist in good establishment, watered well & continue to do so. I noticed a few days ago that the top fronds of 2-3 were turning a little brown (in lightly scratching sections, there was no green beneath and on the worst yew no green on some fronds a little lower down). Thinking it could be the early Spring warm sun we have had for the past couple of weeks, I have been giving them a gentle spray with water later in the day. Out of curiosity, and wanting to get to the bottom of the potential 'overwatering' / 'underwatering' situation, this morning I had a gentle dig around the base / rootball of the worst affected yew to find the soil moist, & moister still where there was commercial topsoil (please note that when I planted the yews, I did mix what soil I had with Westland Topsoil (50:50) - I did not have too much of our soil left as I was digging into turf! It is worth noting that when the yews arrived their rootballs seemed to contain a lot of commercial topsoil too. It seems to me that such topsoil holds moisture very well, perhaps a little too well for yews?).
It could just be that a couple of them are suffering from transplant shock, not having attempted this before, I have no experience and can only guess (I just watch carefully and try and remedy any potential problems as soon as possible before things worsen and the other plants start to suffer too). How to proceed? I could water a little less (each yew was getting about 4 litres every 3 days), and perhaps try to provide a little shade by attaching some thick fabric (I though a mulching / weed supressant material) from the fence over the top of the yews as it could be the sun which has dried out the upper fronds which do get sunlight now the sun is higher in the sky - (further down the plants are in the shade of the fence, and look really green and healthy).
I know I was most probably somewhat foolhardy planting such large plants at the beginning of Spring, but there you are...... I really would like to make the best of the situation, so any help would be deeply appreciated.Thnx everso!
I attach photos:
1. Browning upper fronds of Yew No. 4 (worst yew)
2. Full view of Yew No. 4
3. Yew No. 4 roots
4. Yew No. 1 Healthy upper fronds
5. All 5 Yews
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They look fine. You're worrying unnecessarily. Leave the watering if the soil's damp around them, but keep an eye, especially after a drying few days (wind and sun). They'll produce new growth that will cover up the tips. As you rightly surmised, it's the move from being grown in a nice field in Belgium (yep, that's probably where they're from), dug up and wrapped in sacking and transported distance to a supplier, then moved on to you. Jet lag!
H-C
Had a closer look and I can see the new growth coming. They look as good as I'd expect them to.
H-C
Thank you for your kind advice H-C - it is good to have the reassurance - I was not aware of the distance they have most probably travelled - inevitable really that they should react the way they are!! . I will continue to keep a close eye on my 'jet lagged' buddies as you suggest. I guess the odd human induced light shower can do no harm!