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Conifers/Tiny Tower Italian Cypress

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Expert: - 6/26/2010


Question

italian cypress
We live in NW Okla. and just planted 3 of these Italian Cypress on the North side of our white Stucco house.  They are planted in sandy soil with organic compost.  While one is doing well the other two are turning brown on the side facing the stucco.  Could the reflection from the white stucco be burning the foilage or have we watered too much.  We planted early June and lightly watered each day as we experienced unseasonably hot temps for June (95-100 degrees).  They are shaded for most of the morning and get good sun in the afternoon.  What have we done wrong besides planting right before a heat wave!?!

Answer
You are correct the heat reflecting off the white stucco is damaging the trees on that side. I would 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, Do this every third day for a  month then once a week. The summer months are the worst time of the year to plant trees.  

Jim 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.

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