Verticillium wilt and Tridents?

Joanie

I bought a Trident forest at a show this spring. Nineteen trees, in a big grow box. However, after tending to the forest for a few weeks, I realized that they had not been repotted in several years. The soil was compacted, not draining well (probably also due to the matted roots in the bottom), the grow box had drainage only at the edges of the bottom, (no holes drilled), and the trees in the middle were showing signs of distress. So I prepared a place in a raised bed which used to be my veggie garden, and carefully removed the grow box in situ, so that no roots were disturbed. They seem to be very happy but...........

I realized from some recent reading that the possiblity of verticillium wilt was a real problem. This raised bed had been used to grow tomatoes and later squashes, which had all succumbed to v. wilt. Nothing but weeds have been growing in the bed for at least two years, maybe three or four, and I did put new soil/perlite in when the trees were put in. However, the soil at the bottom of the raised bed was certainly at one time infected. I just never thought about trees having a problem.

So, should I try to remove it again? Maybe build it a new box, bigger? Is it too late (It's been a couple of weeks)? Leave it, and hope for the best?

Please, your advice is needed. These trees are a big investment for me.

Joanie

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Attila

No way.
With the temperatures pushing 90F?

Only weak trees succumb to Vw. Tridents growing in the ground are exceptionally strong.

Joanie

That's reassuring. (Although temps here on the beach are only about 80, but still it's too hot, isn't it?)

They look quite good, and I did read to keep them well watered because trees that are water-deprived are more likely to get sick. They drain well now, so that's no worry.

Anything else I can do?

Joanie

ALDEVAUX

Joanie, I would not worry too much with your maples getting infected with Verticillium wilt.
There are many different species and pathogenic strains of Verticillium and the ones affecting vegetables do not normally affect maples although it could be possible in certain rare cases.
I would be more afraid if it was maples instead of tomatoes that were infected in your soil because Verticillium has very resistant resting structures, called microsclerotia, that can remain pathogenic for many years in soils in the case of V.dahliae, and very thick-celled resting mycelium in the case of V.albo-atrum. Both species are known to infect maples.
Of course, as Attila said, infection is much more difficult when the trees are in good health.