Sudden Fig Tree Death

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Shawn

Registered:1422739534
Posts: 66

Posted 1458946409	Reply with quote #1

I planted 5 fig trees in the ground around November of last year. They all came out of hibernation looking pretty good. Now the Deanna has wilted severely and the others are looking a bit unhappy. Something girdled the VdB so I am not so surprised about that one looking bad, but I am not sure about the others. Is the mulch the problem, clay soil, insect, too much water (mostly rain), etc? I plan on pulling the mulch back from the trunks a bit tomorrow. Below are photos of trees going from the healthiest to sickest. Thanks for looking. __________________ Shawn San Diego, CA Zone 10a Wishlist: Galicia Negra, Smith, Martinenca Rimada, Longue D'Aout (received thanks Gary), MBVS, CDD Blanc, Black Tuscan, Falls Gold Have (most are less than 1 year old): VdB, RdB, Celestial, Yellow Long Neck, Unk LSU TC, Magnolia, CDD Noir, CDD Grise, Maltese Falcon, Black Madera, Panache, Deanna, Peter's Honey, Vasilika Sika, Red Italian

MStanleyross

Registered:1451670149
Posts: 108

Posted 1458947368	Reply with quote #2

Removing the mulch may help. Did you get a freeze after they leaved out? You do have great weather for figs out there. They are good size trees, Encanto Farms may be able to help since they are in your area and are so knowledable in the fig world. Keep us posted on their progress. __________________ Wish List: Sodus Scilian, Dall' Osso, Kathleen Black, I-258, Malta Black, Ischia Black, Persian White, Native de Argentile, Lampeira Preta, Sofeno Petro and any LSU or any duplicates you may have. Zone 7 East Tn.

Shawn

Registered:1422739534
Posts: 66

Posted 1458947817	Reply with quote #3

So far the weather has been pretty good. I dont think we have had any frost. I have a number in pots as well that are looking healthy. __________________ Shawn San Diego, CA Zone 10a Wishlist: Galicia Negra, Smith, Martinenca Rimada, Longue D'Aout (received thanks Gary), MBVS, CDD Blanc, Black Tuscan, Falls Gold Have (most are less than 1 year old): VdB, RdB, Celestial, Yellow Long Neck, Unk LSU TC, Magnolia, CDD Noir, CDD Grise, Maltese Falcon, Black Madera, Panache, Deanna, Peter's Honey, Vasilika Sika, Red Italian

Hershell

Registered:1396922438
Posts: 650

Posted 1458952465	Reply with quote #4

It could be that the hole they are planted in is staying full of water because the potiting soil is so pours. This happened to several of mine last spring. __________________ Hershell Zone 8. Ray City, Ga.

sobelri

Registered:1429038724
Posts: 89

Posted 1458955060	Reply with quote #5

That mulch looks really fresh / green. If mulch hasn't been aged, it can be dangerous to new plants. What's the source of the mulch? __________________ SE Texas, zone 8b

figgary

Registered:1387147322
Posts: 833

Posted 1458956359	Reply with quote #6

Any gophers in your yard, Shawn? __________________ Gary in CA 9A Seeking: Bebera Branca*, Colonel Littman's Cross

Shawn

Registered:1422739534
Posts: 66

Posted 1458964755	Reply with quote #7

-Hershell what did you do to deal with the water problem? -Sobelri it is gorilla hair (shredded redwood bark). -Figgary I have never seen a gopher in our yard or gopher holes. We have lived here 10 years. __________________ Shawn San Diego, CA Zone 10a Wishlist: Galicia Negra, Smith, Martinenca Rimada, Longue D'Aout (received thanks Gary), MBVS, CDD Blanc, Black Tuscan, Falls Gold Have (most are less than 1 year old): VdB, RdB, Celestial, Yellow Long Neck, Unk LSU TC, Magnolia, CDD Noir, CDD Grise, Maltese Falcon, Black Madera, Panache, Deanna, Peter's Honey, Vasilika Sika, Red Italian

tyro

Registered:1305930864
Posts: 230

Posted 1458977189	Reply with quote #8

Photo 3.Any chance that's round up over spray from next door? __________________ Paul.Simi Valley,Ca.Zone 9a/Sunset 18

Hershell

Registered:1396922438
Posts: 650

Posted 1458992539	Reply with quote #9

It was raining almost daily so I put some back in pots and others I mounded dirt up and planted them above the water level. The ground is very flat here so ditches are a must also. Most recovered and are doing well once they got established. __________________ Hershell Zone 8. Ray City, Ga.

jdsfrance

Registered:1376988473
Posts: 2,591

Posted 1458998772	Reply with quote #10

Hi, I would check the roots. Did they get chewed ? Did they rot ? Did you leave air pockets at planting time ? Are they wet ? Are they dry ? I don't see black markings on the leaves, and that would be frost damage. Without any other clues, the tree in pic3 is lacking water ... or no longer has roots to pump water, or got a chem spray ... Did you spray some weeding chem ? Did the mulch have some chem ? Definitively check the roots asap, if you want to stand a chance to save the tree .... __________________ ------------------------ Climate from -25°C to + 35°C Only cold hardy figtrees can make it here

Shawn

Registered:1422739534
Posts: 66

Posted 1459039327	Reply with quote #11

Thank you very much for the suggestions and ideas. There has been no weed spray on the hill where the figs are and I do not think there is a way that there could have been drift from a neighbor. Although, I suppose anything possible. It is always possible that the mulch company sprayed herbicide on the mulch, but I have no idea I pulled the mulch back today from around the trees. Soil is still quite moist and it hasnt rained in 10 days. I am inclined to believe it might be a water issue if that is possible, but I think I definitely need to look at the roots before I lose more. The one in the middle photo that got 85% girdled in starting to get black spots on the trunk where the bark is gone. __________________ Shawn San Diego, CA Zone 10a Wishlist: Galicia Negra, Smith, Martinenca Rimada, Longue D'Aout (received thanks Gary), MBVS, CDD Blanc, Black Tuscan, Falls Gold Have (most are less than 1 year old): VdB, RdB, Celestial, Yellow Long Neck, Unk LSU TC, Magnolia, CDD Noir, CDD Grise, Maltese Falcon, Black Madera, Panache, Deanna, Peter's Honey, Vasilika Sika, Red Italian

oldguy128

Registered:1443366786
Posts: 31

Posted 1459398572	Reply with quote #12

A sudden temp change, or hudmidy change can do it, pick the dead leaves off i bet new leaves will come out. They went into shock their not dead yet, give them time to adjust

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1459769496 · Edited	Reply with quote #13

I wonder if the redwood bark compounded the problem?! Somewhere I read this. __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

johnnyq627

Registered:1366344367
Posts: 710

Posted 1459798333	Reply with quote #14

To me it looks like a lack of moisture getting to the leaves. Either it was in a high humidity area, such as a greenhouse, and your air is very dry... or possibly the root structure was damaged significantly during planting. __________________ Nick- Youtube: PA Figs \| eBay: tdepoala Zone 6B/7A - Douglassville, PA Wish list - Galicia Negra, Paritjal Rimada, Black Ischia UCD

NoelG_123

Registered:1406247827
Posts: 178

Posted 1459800730	Reply with quote #15

VERY strong chance it's gophers. They love young fig roots. I always cage my root balls now. Good luck. ( You may want to pull them and repot, fertilize and water). __________________ "A fig by any other name, is a Newton."

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