Hancock County Master Gardeners Association

Helping Others Grow

Ask a Master Gardener
Public Calendar
Resources
Follow Us

Michelle Asks For Help With Multiple Tree Problems

By

This question was submitted by Michelle and answered by Advanced Master Gardener Bruce after a site visit, research and consultations with the Master Gardener team.

What is your question for a Master Gardener?

Hi! I have some concerns with trees this year and hope it is just due to the crazy weather (despite the fact I watered the young ones 3-4 times per week). I can email pictures if needed, but the concern is that the branches are turning black. All different types of trees, young and old. No signs when we had the late frost. All just started this past week. Thank you!

 

Hi Michelle  I hope you are doing well.  I have good news and bad news for you.

The good news, The Maple trees must have been damaged during the late freeze.  It should grow out of it by next spring.  The oak trees, most likely, suffered physical damage from the winds, the freeze, etc.  The tulip tree is OK.  May want to monitor your Redbud.  It’s only a couple of leaves but it is showing signs that water is not getting to the leaves.  A good watering every three to four days should return it to normal.  If not, let us know.

The bad news concerns your willow tree.  It needs to come out.  It has several cankers (lesions) which is causing its decline.  The cankers make it possible for insects and disease to get inside the tree and cause havoc. It is fairly common for willow trees to produce cankers.  I would not advise getting another willow tree as a replacement.  The picture below show the cankers I’m talking about..

WillowTreeCankers

I know you plan on adding more trees to your yard. I included a couple of videos that have some tips that will help with your trees health and growth. Contact us next spring before leaves start to form and I will help with your pruning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIaYvtqY7-I&list=PLp7M5Aw8G6NM8hQpoaZyZF5ehxK3ikylt&index=6&t=62shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5rUgd7BmiA&list=PLp7M5Aw8G6NM8hQpoaZyZF5ehxK3ikylt&index=2&t=127s

Thanks for contacting the Master Gardeners of Hancock County for advice.  If you need anything further, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Final comment from Michelle:

Hi Bruce, I appreciate so much that you have taken the time that you have to help me with our situation. I am very grateful! I knew that willow trees could be delicate trees, but did not know what to look for.  This has been an educational experience.  I made sure to share your suggestions on pruning and staking the trees for support with my husband. I will be in touch for further assistance in the future.

Again, thank you so much!!

Michelle

Fruit Tree Questions

By

Amy asks several questions for proper care of her fruit trees.

Response by Master Gardener Bruce:

Hi Amy,  Thanks for your your question about your fruit trees.  It’s good that you have cut the dead out of your pear tree.  You may want to prune it to maximize your pear production. The best time to prune is late winter. Here is a link for pruning a pear tree. https://www.goodfruit.com/the-1-2-3-rule-of-pruning/

So you haven’t seen any plums on your tree yet?  It normally takes 4-6 years before the tree will start to fruit.  It has been growing long enough so there must be another factor causing your plum not to bear fruit.  If you know the variety, look it up online and check the following:  Is it an ornamental plum?  If it is an ornamental then it will not bear fruit.  Will the variety self pollinate or do you need a second tree for pollination?

The most common cause is frost damage.  They bloom earlier than most of the other fruit trees which makes it more susceptible to frost damage.  This year on April 15 & 16 the temps dived to 25 degrees. That pretty much destroyed your crop for this year.  It may have been the case last year as well.  I read where someone put Christmas tree lights on the tree to help keep the temp above 32 degrees.  You can also put sheets on some of the branches to help protect the flowers if it happens again. With the change in weather patterns, I’m sure it will happen again.

If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to write back.–

Bruce

Tomatoes Slow to Ripen

By

Question
Hi Master Gardener,
For the first time ever, I planted tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets, using Schultz garden & vegetable dirt with 2″ mulch on top of dirt. They get 7-8 hours of sunshine, I water every day if no rain. The plants are 4-6 feet tall, healthy with the usual leaf production ( I pruned the suckers as the plants matured.) I planted seedling sprouts on May 1st. It is now 116 days later and the tomatoes are VERY VERY slow to redden ( ripen) There is a good quantity of fruit, but ripening seems to be extremely slow. Where am I wrong or is this common? Thank you Please email respond as I am anti telephone HA:)
Bill 

Answer by Master Gardener Bruce:

Good morning Bill,

Thanks so much for the information.  After answering a few questions, I feel you are doing everything right so I did some more research in solving your ripening problem.  This is what I came up with.  I looked for information on tomatoes ripening in a container vs ripening in the ground.  I couldn’t find any information on the difference if there is any.  Once the seedling is planted in the container it takes 2-3 months for tomatoes to be ready for harvest.  Which is about the same for inground tomatoes.  I did run across a study done at the University of Maryland with tomato ripening this year.  Enough potassium is required for the tomato to produce lycopene.  Lycopene is the agent that gives tomatoes there color.  With the massive rains received this year, they believe that the excess water may have inhibited the plants ability to absorb the potassium.  Their study shows the soil was rich in potassium but when they checked the plants, there was a low level of potassium found.  They don’t know why.  Since your tomatoes are container grown, maybe the excess rain washed all the nutrients out of your container causing a potassium deficiency.  You might try adding some potassium to your container and see if that corrects the problem.

Good luck and stay in touch!.