Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Friday - September 14, 2012
From: Kempner, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Diseases and Disorders, Propagation, Transplants, Watering, Trees
Title: Dying branches on Texas Mountain Laurel from Kempner TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
The branches on my Texas Mountain Laurel are very dry and brittle. The leaves are also starting to die. The tree has been in my yard for six years and prior to that it sat wrapped in burlap for over three years at my fathers home. It bloomed beautifully this past spring. The growth at the top of the tree is still green and when i do the scratch test the higher limbs are okay. It's the lower, thick limbs that are brittle and break very easily. The tree is over 15 ft tall and the tree was originally in Kerrville, Tx. I've also noticed a lot of dead branches on the tree as well. I live in Kempner, Tx with very rocky soil. Because of the problems digging a deep enough hole to plant the tree, we planted the tree above ground and built a stone 2" ft landscape wall around the tree and added soil to cover the root ball of the tree. Since the branches are so brittle, I'm thinking it is not getting enough waterm but we run our sprinkler system every day. I hope it's not too late to save my tree, but I don't know what to do. I hope you can help.ANSWER:
Okay, let us see if we understand the lifespan so far of your Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain laurel)
1. It was originally dug up, in the wild, perhaps? in Kerrville, TX. From our webpage on Propagation of this tree:
"Since S. secundiflora is a slow growing plant, most specimen sized shrubs are made commercially available by digging them from the wild, and then balling and burlapping. It is difficult for S. secundiflora to survive this kind of transplant because it has a sparse root system with a deep taproot. Because it is impossible to dig up the entire root, the plant often goes into shock and dies."
2. Second transplant: For three years, it sat wrapped in burlap in your father's home. Also in Central Texas?
3. Third transplant: moved to your yard in Lampasas County, where it stayed for 6 years, in a raised bed, with daily sprinkling.
From the Growing Conditions on our webpage for this plant:
"Conditions Comments: Needs good drainage"
This plant should get a medal (or perhaps a nice tombstone) for survival. Every suggestion we make to gardeners wishing to have a Texas Mountain Laurel has been defied. Three years without access to fresh soil and water! Three transplants of a plant that severely dislikes transplants. Six years in different soil with constant daily watering. This plant is basically a desert plant and needs deep watering maybe twice a month. Daily sprinkling of anything wastes water in this part of the country that can't afford it, and can cause fungal disease in the plants.
So, although we may not have hit on the precise thing that is killing your plant, at least you have several to choose from.
Can it be saved? We get many questions on Texas Mountain Laurel, including pruning. You might as well try it, what can you lose? Here are some previous questions on Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain laurel); they have other useful links.
From the Image Gallery
More Diseases and Disorders Questions
What to do about leaf spot on Vaccinium myrsinites in Clearwater FL?
June 24, 2010 - I have recently planted many Vaccinium myrsinites (shiny blueberry) in my yard. These plants seem to have many dead twig branches without leaves. The remaining leaves have red spots. I visited a na...
view the full question and answer
Swarming insects on non-native willow in Washington PA
September 25, 2011 - I have had a very large, beautiful pillow willow bush/tree growing next to our garage for about 8 years. Last year at the end of August, it began to attract white-faced hornets and yellow jackets by t...
view the full question and answer
Young Bur Oak not Flourishing in Texas
November 06, 2014 - We have a bur oak in our SW Travis County lawn in Texas, planted about 3 years ago as a 6-7' tree. It is now about 12' but has not "flourished". It has put out virtually no horizontal branches, an...
view the full question and answer
Problems with wax myrtle in Austin
February 01, 2009 - I have been struggling with wax myrtles for the last year! We live in NW Austin, The plants start off great and then thin out, leaves go brown, and die. I then cut off the dead wood in the hope that t...
view the full question and answer
Transplant shock in Achillea millefolium
May 28, 2007 - I had a clump of yarrow in my garden and was worried that it would become very aggressive to the other plants. I decided to transplant it into large clay pots to control it. Immediately after the tran...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |