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Annuals/Transplanted Quince bush

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Expert: - 6/3/2010


Question

Bush 2
I had a very large Quince bush that we dug up and separated it into seven sections on 5/25/2010. We planted them about 18-20" deep and have watered them every day for about 5-7 minutes each. There was a heavy thunderstorm last night and this morning all of the leaves have turned brown and appear to be falling off. Prior to the storm, the leaves were green and appeared to be curling. Is this normal or have I watered them too much?  We did not cut them back and are wondering if we should do that?  Currently they are about 5-6' tall.  Could it be that they are just in shock from moving them or have they died?  Also, we have not fed them and were wondering if we should do that?  Any help you can give us will be appreciated.  Thank you.

Answer
It sounds from your description that the roots have become completely saturated. When this occurs, they cannot absorb nutrients or oxygen from the soil. This, coupled with the normal transplant shock, can result in foliage drop and discoloring.

I cannot tell you for certain whether or not the transplants have died. You will have to observe them over the next week or so and determine if you see any improvement. You absolutely do not want to fertilize them for the first few weeks. This gives the roots time to establish. You also never want to transplant into clay soil, since clay provides poor drainage. Hopefully, you filled the transplant holes with organic soil composed of compost, peat, and manure.

Good luck, and please let me know over the next 10-14 days if you need further assistance.

Regards,

Mike  

Mike Mascio

Expertise

I have been an avid gardener since 1985 and an AllExpert volunteer since 1998. I specialize in soil preparation, seed starting and plant propagation, flowers, vegetables, and general landscaping. I am a strong advocate of the square foot method of gardening and the use of organic controls for pests and diseases.

Experience

An All-Expert volunteer since 1998.

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