Arbutus trees are looking.... bad
aztec
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
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davidrt28 (zone 7)
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoaztec
8 years agoRelated Discussions
arbutus marina - cousin of strawberry tree
Comments (6)Chaste tree and other grayleaf plants would be less harmonious than others in similar shades of green to what you have listed as being in the planting already. I'd look into Italian buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus), California lilac (Ceanothus)--these come in both tall and low--green leaved species of rockrose (Cistus), green leaved cultivars of sunrose (Helianthemum), things like that. Except for the buckthorn these all have plenty of flower power. And you can get the buckthorn in a white variegated version that might be quite pleasing with the pinkish color of the 'Marina' flowers. If you are near Seattle you can see Italian buckthorn in the hedge south of the parking at Good Shepherd Center (along with Viburnum tinus, another candidate to consider) or in the corner farthest from the entrance to Greenlake P.C.C. (near the black locust trees)....See Morearbutus tree
Comments (11)reg, do you know something the USDA and the Forest Service does not? According to several of their sources, Arbutus menziesii IS affected by SOD in addition to be a host species: Tens of thousands of tanoak (Lithocarpus densiflorus), coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), California black oak (Quercus kelloggii), Shreve oak (Quercus parvula var. shrevei), and madrone (Arbutus menziesii) have been killed by a newly identified species, Phytophthora ramorum, which causes Sudden Oak Death. Pacific madrone is affected by Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum). Sudden Oak Death causes a variety of foliar and branch symptoms, significant dieback, and mortality [41,45,46,102,114,115]. The madrone appears to be susceptible to infestation by Phytophthora ramorum, the pathogen responsible for Sudden Oak Death. Purplish leaf spots and stem cankers can result in branch dieback substantial enough to cause death (Alexander, 2002). The USDA reports that thousands of madrones have succumbed to the pathogen since its discovery in the mid-nineties (Frankel, 2001) but others caution that of all the species suspected of vulnerability to Sudden Oak Death, madrone is the most difficult host in which to recognize Phytophthora (California Oak Mortality Task Force, 2002). Diagnosis of Phytophthora in madrones is complicated by its high susceptibility to other pathogens that have similar symptoms (Garbelotto, 2002). For example, in California's Santa Cruz Mountains, most mature madrones are infected with Botryospheria ribis, or madrone twig blight, which gradually kills the tree and has symptoms in common with Sudden Oak Death (Coate, 2002). Some advise that, until better tests for Phytophthora in madrones are developed, the presence of infected species nearby is the best indication of for determining the presence of the pathogen in the field (California Oak Mortality Task Force, 2002). And as to the decline of Pacific madrones, that is pretty well be established also. Just Google "arbutus menziesii decline" and you'll turn up hundreds of hits, many to scholarly articles, describing this very recognized phenomenon. I'm sure a great deal of it has to do with the shrinking or continued development of their natural habitat combined with associated pollution factors, but there is little doubt that natural populations of madrone are diminishing in number, no doubt due in large part to the many, often fatal, pathogens they are prone to. In BC, they are listed as an endangered species. Ian, I'd like to think that you are far enough away from a major metropolitan area that madrones would fare better.....here, I'd swap your numbers around. For every healthy tree I see, I see 10 that are ailing in some fashion. Generally, the only healthy trees are very young ones, typically less than around 12' in height. I can only assume that younger trees appear to be healthy only because they have not been around long enough to contract one of the may pathogens that decimates this species. I fear it is only a matter of time....See MoreArbutus unedo (strawberry tree) seedling transplanting; grown in pots?
Comments (3)based on your experience .. i would continue to work with some volume .. to cut odds of failure ... but surely you dont need 200+ there is no reason they cant be potted up and grown on .. maybe 10 ... so by the 3rd repotting you are down to one or two.... if they could not be .. there would be no industry in trees.. of any kind ... dont focus on the tree you have alone.. i suspect when researching info on any part of this project ... just use tree ... e.g media for trees in pots .... etc ... in potting up ... you dont jump immediately to a 25 gal pot ....you move to the next size pot ... every time the roots grow out the bottom ... you might want to look into bonsai also ... a system of root pruning.. to make large things small ... i often say... fear your success ...lol ....but seriously ... just because they sprouted.. doesnt mean you have to keep them ... with trees in pots.. the biggest key.. is the media ... ken...See MoreArbutus trees: were great, now looking... bad
Comments (6)Gardengal, I don't know what type of arbutus it is. Is there a way to tell? I've looked at pictures of them, and they all look the same to me (except the Marina, with smooth bark, which these don't have). As for ph, we had soil tested in two locations, about 75' away on either side of the trees. One was highly acidic, the other moderately acidic. I've pasted the two test summaries at the bottom. As follow up on the irrigation, the bubblers near the trunks probably have not operated in at least 1.5 years. I test ran all of our zones and none of them run water to those. They have been hit by heavy sprays, but as I mentioned, we really haven't watered that area much at all. Nitrogen is very low. Phosphorus is optimum and potassium is almost three times optimum. Calcium is low and magnesium is sufficient for plant growth. In the micronutrient category copper and iron are both ample. Zinc and manganese are low. Soluble salts are safe as indicated by the ECe reading of 2.7 dS/m. Soil pH, which is strongly acidic in reaction, is not ideal for many landscape plants. Sodium is elevated and may restrict the growth of many sodium sensitive plants. The (SAR) sodium absorption ratio is also very high and will negatively impact soil structure as it relates to water retention and infiltration. Nitrogen is low. Phosphorus is optimum and potassium is also optimum. Calcium and magnesium are sufficient for plant growth. In the micronutrient category copper, manganese and iron are all ample. Zinc is low. Soluble salts are very high as indicated by the ECe reading of 6.0 dS/m and can restrict the growth of many salt sensitive plants. Soil pH, which is moderately acidic in reaction, is acceptable for many landscape plants. Sodium is elevated and may restrict the growth of many sodium sensitive plants. The (SAR) sodium absorption ratio is also very high and will negatively impact soil structure as it relates to water retention and infiltration....See MoreMike McGarvey
8 years agoJean
8 years agodavidrt28 (zone 7)
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoSara Malone Zone 9b
8 years agoaztec
8 years agodavidrt28 (zone 7)
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years agodavidrt28 (zone 7)
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoSara Malone Zone 9b
8 years agoUser
8 years agodavidrt28 (zone 7)
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoaztec
8 years agodavidrt28 (zone 7)
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agodavidrt28 (zone 7)
8 years agoSara Malone Zone 9b
8 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years agoUser
8 years agoSara Malone Zone 9b
8 years agodavidrt28 (zone 7)
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoUser
8 years agofloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
8 years agoSara Malone Zone 9b
8 years agoaztec
8 years agomissionmom
8 years agodavidrt28 (zone 7)
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoSara Malone Zone 9b
8 years agoSara Malone Zone 9b
8 years agoSara Malone Zone 9b
8 years agoSara Malone Zone 9b
8 years agoaztec
7 years agomissionmom
7 years agodavidrt28 (zone 7)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoSara Malone Zone 9b
7 years agoaztec
7 years agoEve's Garden Design
5 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years agoEve's Garden Design
5 years ago
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