Hi Tree Experts,
We have a loverly Chitalpa Tashkendensis here in sunny Southern California. It's trying to die, though!
Lives in a raise bed above lawn with begonias and gazanias around it; gets about 10 minutes of sprinkler 5X a week. About half mild shade/half sun depending on time of day. I have also been deep-watering it each weekend with the hose for about 30 minutes.
Bought it in a 48" box ($$$!!! but gorgeous) and it has been happily in the ground for a year. But about three months ago, certain sections of the tips suddenly burned. So, I doused it.
It became happy again, flowered some more, etc. until just this week when it has suddenly shed almost all its leaves and looks fairly pathetic. A week ago it was leafed and lots of pink flowers; today it looks like late spring in Siberia. However, there is new growth and new leaves on the tips of the tree since it shed all its leaves last week.
For now, I am going to stop watering that area at all, since it seems moist although not wet under the mulch. Is there anything else I can do for my beautiful, sad tree?
Thanks much!
(PS- talked to certified Arborist who said 'well... I don't know but I don't have time to look at it.' So I also have a call into the Rancho Santa Ana botanical gardens in our area, apparently they are familiar with these trees... hope they can help with Chitalpa therapy!)
We have a loverly Chitalpa Tashkendensis here in sunny Southern California. It's trying to die, though!
Lives in a raise bed above lawn with begonias and gazanias around it; gets about 10 minutes of sprinkler 5X a week. About half mild shade/half sun depending on time of day. I have also been deep-watering it each weekend with the hose for about 30 minutes.
Bought it in a 48" box ($$$!!! but gorgeous) and it has been happily in the ground for a year. But about three months ago, certain sections of the tips suddenly burned. So, I doused it.
It became happy again, flowered some more, etc. until just this week when it has suddenly shed almost all its leaves and looks fairly pathetic. A week ago it was leafed and lots of pink flowers; today it looks like late spring in Siberia. However, there is new growth and new leaves on the tips of the tree since it shed all its leaves last week.
For now, I am going to stop watering that area at all, since it seems moist although not wet under the mulch. Is there anything else I can do for my beautiful, sad tree?
Thanks much!
(PS- talked to certified Arborist who said 'well... I don't know but I don't have time to look at it.' So I also have a call into the Rancho Santa Ana botanical gardens in our area, apparently they are familiar with these trees... hope they can help with Chitalpa therapy!)