Had these trees planted at my parents’ house (which I do not live in or near and is for sale) to fill in the line of trees. I have never planted anything in my life so when the landscapers put them in, they told me to water once or twice a week, but I was just too busy with work, we get quite a bit of rain so I thought it would be ok, house is in Westchester in New York. The landscaper called and said that they are dying and I need to water them. It rained literally all day for 3 days after that phone call and the trees are still looking like this. Is it too late? My landscaper is “very busy” and only makes it around to cut the grass quickly once a week so any tips would be appreciated because I’m at a loss. If I need to hire some high school kid to come by and water it a few times a week that’s fine but I’m just wondering if they are dying already and it’s just pointless lol. Inb4 comments that I need a new landscaper- I was expecting this house to have sold already so I’m really just trying to get on with my life lol.
by CollarNegative
22 Comments
You should be watering them everyday until they establish themselves
Mulch and water
They look like green Tjoya Giants that need well draining soil, if it’s been raining a lot and the water is not draining there could be root rot. Just one of many possibilities
Landscapers typically aren’t going to know much about trees. It’s likely they planted the trees too deep. Those trees will also need about 15 gallons of water a week for the first few years. If they weren’t getting this then the recent rain wouldn’t result in much of an immediate improvement.
It’s not too late, but the visible damage isn’t going to turn green. That bit is already dead. If you can set up a regular watering schedule plus introduce fertilizer, you can still save these.
Talk to your landscaper but also consult a local garden store and/or your extension service for specific strategies. “A couple of times a week” is awfully vague. “2-3x a week for 20-30 minutes on a slow trickling hose” is actionable.
Estate? Why don’t your wealthy parents hire a high-end landscaper to replace these kinds of things
Tons more water, for at least a month.
Feed the trees some tree fertilizer
You have to water these every day.
Water
Root ball trees have to be babied especially in the first season. You can’t put it off. It takes time for them to develop a long term root system.
The heat waves in New York will kill a tree if it’s dry and then we have a few days in the 90s. It happens fast.
Watering with a hose is not a quick task. You can’t have water on full. Have water come out slowly, and leave the hose on the ground, move it every so many minutes. This allows deep watering. The soil soaks up the water. A young kid may or may not have the patience for this.
Evergreens can only dry completely out once. Think about your fresh Christmas tree . If it runs out of water, it will lose its needles by New Years. It wouldnt matter if you got a lot of rain 6 days later. Keep them watered and they may just be shedding branches and needles to save themselves. Also, mulch would have kept the soil from drying out . Mulch them .
You have to mulch and lots of water and if there are any neighborhood, dogs peeing on them that will kill them as well
Funny. My landscaper always tells me i’m over watering. He planted a long row of green giants and another shorter row of emerald arborvitaes, for me, last fall. I have drip lines and water 3 hours, twice a week. Whenever there is some browning, he says i’m overwatering. Flashforward, everything seems to be in really good shape except one tree, which turned completely brown in the Spring and was replaced. I’m on Long Island, NY.
Arborvitae are extremely picky shrubs(trees? I call them a shrub). They’re temperamental. Just plant something native that can survive the climate. Water well the first year and move on.
Lots of water. Water well before winter.
You have to water them. Set up a sprinkler with a timer that goes off every day so they get water for 20 minutes a day or whatever your landscaper recommends. Pay the landscaper to do it if you don’t know how.
LANDSCAPER HERE WHO IS NOT A FAKE
Ignore what most people are saying, lots of bad info.
Watering is complicated and if you have questions ask your landscaper or a trusted local nursery. But you don’t need to water everyday and you should be watering more even if it rains. Either slow drip or water several time in a row.
Prune all brown branches out and they will instantly look better. Can’t fix anything you killed so far, but can prevent further damage and they can regrow
My grandpa always put rolled oats around the roots of a freshly planted tree. The rolled oats would absorb the water and give the roots lots of goodness to help them take hold. He never lost a tree
Fungus. Try baking soda water. Spray it on affected branches. Cut off as much brown as you can