I DESPERATELY NEED YOUR HELP: What do you do for burned roots on a tree?

[Eli]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
UPDATE:

Last night my wife and I talked to some gardening experts from both a local nursery and the Home Depot. They suggested spreading a specific type of fertilizer around the base of the tree, which we did. Now only time will tell. We've been getting a lot of rain from the hurricane, which can only help the situation.

I don't want to get my hopes up too much, but I noticed last night that some of the lower branches that I had presumed were completely dead have started putting out some new growth in just the last day or two. These branches were completely brown and brittle, but now have some bright green "needles" that are sprouting.

I am very weary of this advice. You should rarely, if ever give a sick plant fertilizer unless you know exactly what you are doing.

1) When the soil pH becomes low, nutrients build up in the soil, because they cannot be absorbed by the plant. When you start raising the pH, the nutrients are suddenly available - and it may burn.

2) Most fertilizers are acidic. If it contains ammonia or sulfur compounds, I STRONGLY suggest NOT to use it. It is not going to help.

If you've been getting torrential rains from the hurricanes, I wouldn't worry about it too much. That should be quite effective.

Of course, being in the ground helps a lot. There is much more soil surface area to buffer the pH and any fertilizers you apply.

SagaLore's advice is good, and that is along the lines of what I would've done.

I would never go to Home Depot for emergency plant advice. The last time I went to Home Depot, I had to ask 3 different home and garden department personnel before I found someone who knew what vermiculite was, just so they could tell me that they don't have any in stock.

If it is activly growing(fresh green needles from growth tips), I wouldn't worry TOO much.

 

[Grey]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
UPDATE:

Last night my wife and I talked to some gardening experts from both a local nursery and the Home Depot. They suggested spreading a specific type of fertilizer around the base of the tree, which we did. Now only time will tell. We've been getting a lot of rain from the hurricane, which can only help the situation.

I don't want to get my hopes up too much, but I noticed last night that some of the lower branches that I had presumed were completely dead have started putting out some new growth in just the last day or two. These branches were completely brown and brittle, but now have some bright green "needles" that are sprouting.

I am very weary of this advice. You should rarely, if ever give a sick plant fertilizer unless you know exactly what you are doing.

1) When the soil pH becomes low, nutrients build up in the soil, because they cannot be absorbed by the plant. When you start raising the pH, the nutrients are suddenly available - and it may burn.

2) Most fertilizers are acidic. If it contains ammonia or sulfur compounds, I STRONGLY suggest NOT to use it. It is not going to help.

If you've been getting torrential rains from the hurricanes, I wouldn't worry about it too much. That should be quite effective.

Of course, being in the ground helps a lot. There is much more soil surface area to buffer the pH and any fertilizers you apply.

SagaLore's advice is good, and that is along the lines of what I would've done.

I would never go to Home Depot for emergency plant advice. The last time I went to Home Depot, I had to ask 3 different home and garden department personnel before I found someone who knew what vermiculite was, just so they could tell me that they don't have any in stock.

If it is activly growing(fresh green needles from growth tips), I wouldn't worry TOO much.

Eli is 100% on the mark here, do not use fertilizer on an already stressed plant. The overwatering he suggested will help leach out the contanimants of the soil. If you have gotten a lot of rain from the hurricanes I would let it be. The lime is also a good suggestion since it will help bring the soil acidity back up to a slightly acidic 6.5.

I checked and see you live in Tennesee. I would wait till after the winter before using fertilizer if you must. Once they ground freezes you can put some low strength fertilzer down so it will be available for next springs growth. Try Milorganite, it won't burn the tree or the grass and it has a nice nitrogen concentrate to help encourage foliage growth.