Apricot tree (forum)

au0rey starts with ...
I have planted a barefoot apricot tree in a large pot and recently the leaves finally came out (I thought the tree died). There was no sight of flowers. Both the branches and the trunk are having leaves. Do i assume that these leaves are suckers on the trunk and should I pull them off? Thanks!
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Time: 24th September 2009 4:55pm

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HappyEarth says...
Hey auOrey, the tree is too small to flower. Leave all leaves except any that is coming from below the graft union (which is probably none). You can prune off branches next winter to shape it but in the meantime just let it do its thing.

Rich
www.happyearth.com.au

Time: 24th September 2009 5:02pm

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Jimmy says...
Dude

I would summer prune to less branches than that, too many too close together for my liking.

Time: 25th September 2009 10:43am

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au0rey says...
I decided to dig a hole in my front garden for planting my apricot in. After digging the hole, before I could plant the tree in, it rained. The next day,I found some muddy water in the hole. I removed the muddy rainwater and planted the tree in along with its potting mix (as I tried to minimise root disturbance since it is not actively putting on leaves. Given it seasol.


Since then the tree does not look good at all. Some of its leaves look burnt and droop for these two weeks despite more watering. Now i am lost at what I should do. Let it stay in the ground and cross my fingers? Or should I pull it up? I have a large adult plum tree and olive tree in the same front garden and they are fine. They seem fine with the same soil.

I have checked some of the dug up soil and it seems that after getting rain onto it, it becomes as hard as a rock.

Could anyone advise me on what to do next or is the situation hopeless?

Would appreciate that. Thanks!


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Time: 11th October 2009 8:40am

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au0rey says...
Sorry...I meant it was actively putting on leaves and I didnt want to disturb its roots during planting.

Time: 11th October 2009 8:43am

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Itdepends says...
Are you on clay by any chance? (soil gets slippery/slimy when wet). If so- the tree should be planted above the normal soil level- on a bit of a raised mound. If you can wiggle it up a bit and get it raised then it should be fine. The drooping leaves is just transplant shock.

Pull off any of the leaves growing on the trunk unless you want a new branch to grow there.

Cheers,

Daniel

Time: 11th October 2009 9:39pm

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au0rey says...
Hi Itdepends, thanks for your reply! I am not sure if the soil is clay but the dug up soil, when drenched by rain, beomes solid hard under sun. Is that clay? I am not sure what is happening down the roots, the leaves are really dying and no sign of life.

To plant the tree on raised mound will mean a lot of raising isnt it? Wont rain wash the mound away?

Thank you.

Time: 14th October 2009 4:07pm

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Jimmy says...
If you can wet it, then roll a tube in your fingers without it falling apart, you got clay.

Time: 14th October 2009 6:03pm

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Itdepends says...
It sure as heck isn't sand or a sandy loam if it goes hard after being left in the sun to dry out.

RE the mound- if you're on clay you want the trunk to be above the ground level so you don't get water pooling around the trunk. I'm not an expert on this method (it's all sand where I am) but I expect you only really want the tree to be 10-20cm above the surrounding ground level.

Daniel

Time: 15th October 2009 3:12pm

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au0rey says...
ok i did the little experiment..mixing the 'soil' with few drops of water and wow it is a lump that doesnt break...CLAY! Apricot tree already looked dead to me...now i am regretting planting it into the ground...:(
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Time: 17th October 2009 12:21pm

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Brendan says...
Hi au0rey,
I would either, 1) put lots of Gypsum around the tree,
or,2) dig it up and incorporate lots of Gypsum with the soil/clay, then replant it.

Because I'm in clay, I plant trees ON the ground, then make a mound from composted moo poo, cheap potting mix (that has no fertilizer), (need 4 bags of each), and about half a 25kg bag of Gypsum. Then I mulch it with coco mulch and/or pine bark.

If it's too late to replant it, try 1). Your call.

Time: 18th October 2009 7:09am

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au0rey says...
Hey everybody...thanks so much for helping...I bought a bag of gypsum...dug up the apricot tree and potted it again in potting mix...pruned the dead branches again...and hope for the best!!! As for the clay soil, I think i will work it with the gypsum then see if the apricot is still alive before i decide if i am going to plant it into the ground again...

It is strange that my eureka lemon tree and grape vine are both fine after planting.

Brendan, when you talk about creating a mound (as did itsdepends), do you need to use some bricks/concrete/sleepers..whatever to hold the mixture together so that it wont be washed off the base of the tree?

Time: 18th October 2009 8:44pm

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Brendan says...
Hi au0rey,

Yeah, you can use sleepers if you like, but I find that the mulch that covers the mound, holds it all together.

The mound ends up being ~ 1.5 to 2 metres across. I try to make the mound square(ish), I find they're easier to mow around.

I also compact the moo poo / potting mix / gypsum mound, by walking over it.

Time: 19th October 2009 6:58am

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au0rey says...
Thanks Brendan!

Time: 19th October 2009 9:39am

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amanda says...
Hi au0rey...I was under the impression that apricots don't like wet feet - which clay would contribute to. I think they form arsenic? or something when they are waterlogged also (can't remember why/which poison it is) Hope your tree makes it :)

Time: 19th October 2009 10:24am

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kert says...
"Forms arsenic" That's a gem . Pray, tell how ? It's actually cyanide from anaerobic combination of carbon and nitrogen.

Time: 22nd October 2009 8:39pm

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Itdepends says...
Well she did say "or something"- i.e. they form something nasty- and don't like wet feet.

No wuckers.

Time: 23rd October 2009 12:49pm

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kert says...
Have you ever asked someone a specific question and they come back with "it depends" ;as if that is an answer.

Time: 24th October 2009 9:18am

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