AboutJim Hyland Expertise Registered Forester in the Southern US with 30 years experiance in managing pines. Expert in pine forest health from management to control of pests to ID of species.
Question Three weeks ago I planted a 58" Blue Italian Cypress tree with mulch and deep soaked it with a circular soaker hose. I should have know better than to rely on TWO moisture meters. After 10 days of reading WET, my wife noticed the bottom 1/4 of the tree was a faded green and drying out. Needles falling off to the touch. I have deep soaked it twice, but I guess it's too late. I just have to watch the fading color progress to the top. Is there anything I can do....besides break both moisture meters? And is it true that they only measure the electrical conductivity of the soil? For my other plants I am presently using a 1/4" X 16" wooden dowl. I live 35 miles SW of Tucson, Az. and the soil is very good.
Answer Sounds like it is getting too much water. I would water every fourth day with 1 inch of water (place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 inch of water in it stop). Do this for the first couple of months only IF it does not rain and then only once a week through the growing season.
Blue Italian Cypress grows in drought conditions and does not like much water.
