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Ginkgo Tree produces small leaves

last year

last modified: last year

My young Ginkgo tree has been producing only small leaves. The first year, after it had been planted in the late fall 2019 the foliage was great. But the past two seasons the leaves only grew very small. The tree had some shoots (suckers) in the first year which I cut off, otherwise I have not noticed anything wrong. I did fertilize the tree with fishing mulch at the beginning of this season, but didn't notice any improvement.

Featured Answer

Joe Williams

last year

Looks like it might be a little deep...I'd pull back some mulch and possibly soil until you see a nice root flare. More sun would increase it's vigor...but if it truly gets 6-7 hours of hot afternoon soon, it should be good.

I also planted a ginkgo in the fall of 2019. It was the "Golden Globe" cultivar, which is supposedly has a more vigorous growth pattern. It is about the size of your tree as well. Like you, mine looked great the next summer (2020), big leaves that stood tall, nice dark foliage, etc. Since then (2021 and 2022), the foliage is smaller, paler, and looks a little droopy come late summer. It has maybe 3 branches that have put on some new growth of about 4-6", and the trunk is only slightly bigger in diameter.

My theory is the first summer after planting, it was still loaded up with the years of fertilizer and steroids it received being container grown in a nursery. After that, it settled into it's spot and started doing it's normal thing. For a ginkgo tree, the normal thing is painfully slow to establish and start putting on noticeable increases in size. Your zone will make some difference, I'm in zone 6, central Indiana. A warmer zone might show a little more growth the first few years, but not much. Later in life, a ginkgo will pick up the pace...at least I see that on 20-30 year old I see around my town. But that first 5-7 years takes a lot of patience.

Other than maybe being a little too deep, which can be remedied, I don't see anything out of the norm for your ginkgo.

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Comments (9)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
last year
Was it a named cultivar or the straight species? Also, you may want to dig around the trunk to try and find the root flare as it appears to be planted too deep.

tj
Manuel M
Original Author
last year
It is the straight species, like a general Ginkgo, not a dwarf version.

I see, good to know, I'll do that.
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L Clark (zone 4 WY)
last year
last modified: last year
Seems to be in a shady spot. That’s probably not helping its vigor. Also. I agree with tsuga, it seems to be maybe planted too deep
Manuel M
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Thank you. I will try to clear some soil around it, not trying damage the roots.

It is not a full sun spot, but it gets some hours of sun during the day and all sun in the late afternoon. Maybe 6-7hours in the summer months.

But is there any disease or pest that could cause the leaves being small?
BillMN-z-2-3-4
last year
You shouldn't hurt any roots by moving the mulch and soil back a few inches, away from the trunk. Just deep enough to see how deep the root flare is.

A struggling tree with suckers coming from the ground and stunted growth could very well be the tree is planted too deep.
Manuel M
Original Author
last year
Thank you everyone. This is helpful and hopeful.
HU-309078761
4 months ago
Ginkgo has a species with small leaf. But there are not so many in the market for that type of Ginkgo trees. Many people like that type of Ginkgo trees! Not sure which one you bought.
bengz6westmd
4 months ago
Mine had unusually small leaves this last yr because of a severe freeze in late April. Buds were only barely expanding, but the cold still had a significant effect.

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