well .... i would have transplanted it when it was without leaf ... or in VERY EARLY SPRING .... when it had months to grow roots before the heat of summer hit ... next issue.. most trees ... [cant say i am a mango expert though] prefer a good drink and then no standing water in the roots ... so they prefer a soil that is very high in drainage.. very loose .. and NOT high in peat.. which retains water ... so what did you fill the barrel with??? also. if i had no choice in timing.. i would have transplanted it.. and put it in full shade for a couple weeks to a month.. while the roots started pumping again.. before i stuck it back in full sun ... unless mango is somehow unique... a lot of trees will releaf if everything else is proper .... you need immediate shade.. then we have to figure out the soil and watering issues ... good luck ken ps: drainage holes in the bottom of the barrel???

I've actually had it for about 3 or 4 years now. The person who gave it to me had it in her garden for maybe, 5-8 years so it is a mature plant. I have some alfalfa but will take a wait and see approach to it right now. It is front and center in my garden, and it pains me to see it struggling so.... Thank you for the link. Edit: Just read it, funny!! Whenever I do something right in the garden it is accidentally. I'm glad to hear even experienced gardens make big mistakes. I have the maxsea rose formula ( the label has worn off so I don't know the details) and the all purpose 16-16-16. Which one should I use when I fertilize?

I don't see why sunlight would have affected the roots. anyway, put it in a bright spot (southern window) and just leave it be for a while. Since most or all of the leaves have died, it's going to be using very little water. That said, cut way back on watering. Do not fertalize either. just give it time and it'll probably put out some new growth. Leaves that are grown indoors can't just be placed in full sun. They're not used to that. You need to slowly acclimate the plant if you want it grown in full sun. New leaves that do grow in full sun will not burn as they'll grow already acclimated to the higher light levels.

I agree that would be too low to cut it for me. You top it where you want the first side branches to start. However, it should still grow fine and since it's a seedling you don't have a graft to worry about. The lower branches will drag on the ground, but maybe there is a way to prune to correct that later. I don't know.