Slowly Dying Taxus

hackberry

I collected a 3' high landscape taxus in the fall of 2005. The landscape crew that was grubbing out the plants pulled it out of the ground with a bobcat. I wanted to dig it up with a spade, but they did not want me messing around the work site. I put it in an oversized container with potting soil and hoped for the best. Some needle dieback has occurred but there is still what appears to be healthy foliage throughout the plant. The troubling thing is that the plant did not put out new growth this season. I suspect that this may spell the end for the tree, but was wondering if anyone here has gone through this ordeal. A guy from my club said that collected taxus can take up to two years to ultimately die. It did put out a modest flush of new growth last year, so I started to hope that things would be ok. However, we in Ohio just had a brutal winter and then a hard spring freeze. Maybe that was just too much.
This has been especially diffucult to go through because this tree definitely could have been 'the one.'
Please share your applicable anecdotes or comments.

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Dav4

If you used regular potting soil, the root system, as it is post collection, is most likely smothering. You really need fast draining soil to develop/rebuild a good root system. If the tree is still green, it may not be dead yet. Keep it out of full sun, ferrtilize it lightly, and be very careful with the watering. If it makes through next winter, repot it in more appropriate soil. Good luck,


Dave

tachigi

With 36 collected taxus over 40 years old in inventory. I think I can give you a little insight into your dilemma. First it is true that a Taxus will take a very long time to kick the bucket. I cite one particular tree that had been collected from a dry wash bed. It had over time developed a large root high up on the trunk. For our purposes it had to go. Well that was 3 years ago and it didn't start showing it's displeasure with the amputation till late last fall when a whole side of the tree died off and the entire tree looked like it was heading for the fire pile. The die off now I choose to look at as an new styling opportunity. It did green up though this spring however no new shoots. It has been my experience that taxus will do the opposite when their survival is threatened and not flush out with buds. Now saying all that, you said that you had a brutal winter. Did the foliage show any winter scolding? That would be a good indication of why there are no buds as well.

You never did indicate what the root mass looked like at collection, it should have been full of spaghetti, lots of fine roots close into the trunk. Your soil choice at repotting wasn't the best. However I would have to disagree respectfully with Dav that it may cause the demise of the tree although I'm sure it didn't help. I have seen yews collected and repotted in PA. clay and survive, till someone came along and rescued it. So as Dav suggested fertilize lightly, very lightly with fish emulsion. Yews are drought tolerant so no need to water heavily and make a bad situation worse. Finally this winter make sure that it is protected. If it makes it that far that will be your final hurdle. Let us know what the outcome is. I for one would be interested.

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Tom

Shady Side Bonsai
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hackberry

Thanks for the replies.
Tachigi: The tree was literally pulled from the ground with a hydraulic bucket which caused a lot of the roots to be left in the ground. There were several long snaky roots about 0.5 cm in diameter, but few 'feeder' roots. I gently wrapped them into the container.
I know the soil wasn't the greatest, but it was fall and I didn't have any turface or haydite on hand. The potting soil was a peat based product which I amended with copius amounts of coarse perlite. I will continue to nurse this tree and keep you posted.

tachigi

This probably is the the main problem for lack of buds and its demise to its current state.

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Tom

Shady Side Bonsai
Bonsai Vault
4MAAT

Lee

I collect these at up to a good few hundred years old,and my finding is wind kills them like nothing else,you must keep them in a total wind free enviroment,green house or cold frame only.wind and shade netting is not good enough,bottom heat is very helpfull,very regular(10x)per day misting is a must.I collect rootless mountain tree's,and still have a good success rate.You also need shade netting over the greenhouse.
I learnt the hard way,even a draught through a broken pane can spell the end.

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