Even a perfectly healthy young tree is stressed when it moves to a new place. It is the natural response to root disturbance, but identifying and treating transplant shock will help your investment bounce back more quickly.
Recognising the Symptoms
A transplant shock can cause leaves to droop, early leaf fall or slow growth. If your tree looks worse just after planting, don’t worry this is normal. If very wilted or brown over the entire plant, address right away. For Semi Mature Trees For Sale, visit www.naturefirst.co.uk/semi-mature-trees/
The Root of the Problem
Increased mortality during transplanting: Even if handled very carefully, root systems of many tropical seedlings are composed by fine feeder roots which do not allow for easy water and nutrient uptake. Too much canopy, too few roots – tree gets tip burn (same symptoms as salt) Old trees can’t handle the shock of transplant until a new supporting root system develops.
Recovery Strategies
Water, as you would any plant consistently but do not drench roots of a stressed tree. Water deeply when the top inch feels dry. Water in the morning so trees have a chance to soak up moisture before they hit daily heat stress.
Create Optimal Conditions
In hot and sweltering outdoors, save yourself from any added stress by supplying a little shade. Windbreaks can keep damaging winds from desiccating plants and pulling moisture back out of the soil.
Patience is Essential
Recovery usually takes 6-12 months or more for larger specimens. Avoid fertilising in the short term – trees under stress are not good at up-taking additional nutrients.
When to Worry
When you begin to notice that symptoms are not getting better after six weeks, or if the bark is discoloured (darkened) this might be due to pest and disease damage but there is help available in the form of a tree service company. If minor problems are not tackled at the start, that can lead to major disasters later.