Magpie: You can make it a lot easier for us to help you if you would tell us where you live. I guess I could figure it out from the zipcode, but that's the hard way. Understanding your climate can be very helpful in diagnosing problems. Agree with Scott that planting bareroot trees is better than locally purchased containerized trees, but it also sounds as if you may have done it too late -- again depending on your location and climate. Allowing the trees to sit around a few weeks before planting certainly didn't help. And with respect to your watering issues, have you had any natural rainfall at all, and how is your soil composition and drainage? Without knowing much context, I would have to guess that you planted the containerized trees in a ball after digging out a hole in fairly impermeable clay or other such soil. Planting in this way creates a "bowl" effect in which water is held within the immediate planting area in the softer, more absorbent material of the container soil. If you planted in this way, and then watered frequently, you may indeed have drowned the trees. So my suggestions are: Start a lot earlier, don't plant containerized trees, and loosen up the soil in a wide area around the planting hole when putting in fruit trees. It is always a lot more difficult to transplant fully-leafed trees in an active phase of growth than dormant trees. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Thank you Gardengal48 for reply, It is possible though,few months ago I discovered sprinkle system is not working right in other areas of my backyard, I called the gardner to fix it but he is lazy and not responsive to my calls, there are shrubs around the trunk so I wasn`t sure if the tree was also affected by the broken sprinkle system too and not getting enough water ,my bad !

Erik, Congrats on your cold protection strategy. ItÂs the one IÂve found most effective for my potted trees as well. (I have too many in the ground to build frames around all of them.) IÂm also a fan of StanÂs trees. We also had that early December cold snap here in Savannah, but I donÂt think it got below 28 in my neighborhood. My lime tree lost a few leaves, but thatÂs to be expected. Good luck for the rest of the winter, and if you do get cold temps, donÂt send them to the coast. Your efforts may well pay off in a few fruits next season. IÂm finding them somewhat slow-growing trees, and not a variety quick to reward the grower with fruit, but those little mandarins are worth waiting for. If you ever come to Savannah, youÂre welcome to visit my "grove". Marj

Thanks Steve! I've added some pictures; the mobile site wouldn't let me do it for whatever reason. I should also add that it's a dwarf tree in case that matters. Good to hear that there's hope, it's a very productive tree. Haha I usually don't drink either! It was the name of our kitty when I joined the internet eons ago and the handle just kind of stuck :)