What is affecting my Rowan Tree
AngieR
Posts: 347
Something is clearly wrong with my rowan tree (Sorbus Autumn Spire). It started last week and in all honesty I thought at first it was a sign of colder nights and a sign that autumn was on it's way. However, this is not the usual autumn colour, plus the fact that all the foliage is looking droopy as you can see.
As you can see in this next shot everything else roundabout is perfectly happy and showing no signs of distress.
It has been in this spot for just over 4 years and been perfectly happy until now. The ground is not waterlogged nor is it drought. I can see no signs of damage on the trunk/branches or any signs of infestation. Planting nearby does look close but there is at least a meter clear all around the bottom of the trunk.
Any suggestions as to what might be wrong? As usual, thanks in advance.
Posts
I lost a mature rowan to wilt many years ago which went the same way but much more slowly. The soil in that area is still infected.
Hopefully yours have something more benign, bat it may be worth researching.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=255
fingers x'ed it's not
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Interesting read Pete8. I will cut of a branch tomorrow and see what I find! I will need to do a thorough research on which species are susceptible. I'd hate to have to replant the whole area.
There's a link on the page of the link above sowing which are and are not susceptible. Sorbus is mentioned under the 'occasionally infected' heading.
I'm losing a lovely acer katsura to it - upsetting, but just have to plant something else
Let us know how you get on tomorrow
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
A shame you are losing your Acer Pete8. I lost an Acer a couple of years back and wonder now if that may also have been the problem.
Slicing open the branch, there appears to be none of the tell tale signs.
Nor under the bark.
I've read the list of plants most or occassionally affected, it seems my garden is doomed!! Since the soil may be already infected and there is nothing I can do about that. I will leave the Rowan until it's easier to get it out come winter time. Thanks for your input.
That is a good sign. There is no need to get your Sorbus tree out yet. You should wait till spring time next year to see. Sometimes, for whatever reason, trees can lose leaves and die back earlier. Whether it is bark peeling to renew itself or shedding leaves earlier than usual, it's not always death. Harsh drying winds can make some shrubs and trees shed leaves completely to a point of nothing but bare stems. This happened to my Sambucus Nigra last year. In fact, for 8 months of the year, not a leaf. But this year, it came back, albeit still looking very weak.