Is My European Larch Dying? Please Help!

[sharktolion]

Over the past week I have noticed the tips of the needs on my European Larch have started to yellow and fall off. It gets full sun and is watered as suggested. It has been thriving and growing well until very recently. This yellowing is throughout 90% of the tree. I don't see any evidence of casebearer. Could it be blight or needle cast? How can I save it? Location is Detroit Michigan. PLEASE HELP! TYIA

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Have the roots been cooked? Is there a chance they might have been cooked?
Because if that's the case, it can live but it will do so next year.
My larches did so, three years in a row, then the fourth they never woke up.

 

[August44]

Have the roots been cooked? Is there a chance they might have been cooked?
Because if that's the case, it can live but it will do so next year.
My larches did so, three years in a row, then the fourth they never woke up.

What'd you say man?

 

[rockm]

Larch hate hot roots particularly roots that don't cool down at night. That is the primary reason they don't do well south of the Mason Dixon line. Premature yellowing growth was a symptom I saw when I tried to keep larches here in Va. It can be a sign of root distress. Hot days in summer are not really the issue. It is higher nighttime temps (IMO) that stress this species.

Here in Va., larch will limp along for three or four years under such conditions, then simply burn out.

All this certainly doesn't mean a larch in Michigan is going to die. It means the tree has likely had some root stress from being too warm. It will likely be fine as those higher temps are not really typical in your area.

 

[sharktolion]

Have the roots been cooked? Is there a chance they might have been cooked?
Because if that's the case, it can live but it will do so next year.
My larches did so, three years in a row, then the fourth they never woke up.

Thanks for the reply. I have been pretty careful with keeping the roots moist, but there may been been a day in the last few weeks when the temperatures remained high for long periods of time and may have been "cooked". Is there a therapy for this to help the tree recover better?

 

[sharktolion]

Larch hate hot roots particularly roots that don't cool down at night. That is the primary reason they don't do well south of the Mason Dixon line. Premature yellowing growth was a symptom I saw when I tried to keep larches here in Va. It can be a sign of root distress. Hot days in summer are not really the issue. It is higher nighttime temps (IMO) that stress this species.

Here in Va., larch will limp along for three or four years under such conditions, then simply burn out.

All this certainly doesn't mean a larch in Michigan is going to die. It means the tree has likely had some root stress from being too warm. It will likely be fine as those higher temps are not really typical in your area.

Thank you for the info! Would this weather be considered high for the nightime temps? If so, is there a way to help the tree recover better?

 

[August44]

There are a lot of conifers, larches etc that don't like hot roots. It has always amazed me that nursery pots, including Anderson Flats, are all black. It can't be that hard to switch to tan, medium brown or some other color. I have painted black nursery pots with tan, plastic spray paint before and it seemed to work well. Rough up the pot first with sand paper and spray away. Makes a world of difference.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

90°F and up are problematic temperatures here for larches.
Because even if there is water, the water can heat up to that temperature too. Especially with pots in the full sun (temps in full sun can exceed the 60°C and evaporation cools it to 40°C, still 10°C too high).

The deeper the pot and the more insulation from organic layers and air, the better, but a couple days without cool nights have wreaked havoc on my larches so many times that I just quit trying to have them.

Best way moving forward is keeping it shaded and not doing any insults for the rest of the year. Mine tended to drop all their needles for the rest of the year, and flushed out normally the next. But there is no guarantee I can give you.

 

[rockm]

Thanks for the reply. I have been pretty careful with keeping the roots moist, but there may been been a day in the last few weeks when the temperatures remained high for long periods of time and may have been "cooked". Is there a therapy for this to help the tree recover better?

As I mentioned, it is high NIGHTIME temperatures that I believe cripple larches. Nighttime temps consistently above 70 F can impact photosynthesis. Best thing that can happen with the tree would be a cool down. Shaded in the afternoon, only morning sun can help. If the tree has to be in the sun, cover the pot with a white towel or similar.

 

[sharktolion]

As I mentioned, it is high NIGHTIME temperatures that I believe cripple larches. Nighttime temps consistently above 70 F can impact photosynthesis. Best thing that can happen with the tree would be a cool down. Shaded in the afternoon, only morning sun can help. If the tree has to be in the sun, cover the pot with a white towel or similar.

That has been the case multiple times and multiple nights in a row over the past 3 weeks. Thank you for the info and advice.