Expert: Jim Hyland - 9/12/2009

Question
I recently purchased 12 Leyland Cyprus, the grower delivered and planted, with in a few days the tops started turning brown, now the brown is spreading to the lower section. We were watering daily during hot August and now every other day. I recently gave them a treatment of Miracid. The soil drains well and the area is open with no shade.

Answer
Sounds like shock from the planting. The summer months are the worst time to plant a tree due to the hot drier weather--mainly the heat. If you have not done so mulch around the trees with not more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch not piled up on the trunk. This will help hold moisture around the roots. Water with 1 inch of water--place a pan under the trees and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 inch of water in it stop. This is called deep watering --do this every third day for a month then once a week. It will look ragged for a while but should recover. Check with the planter and ask what type of guarantee they have --time wise. Near the end of the time check and see if the tree looks good if not ask them to replace it.