Dirty Nails
Shohin
What causes branch die back like this? I am trying to get tertiary branching developed but with this die back I am taking 2 steps back for every one forward.
Trident maple branch die back
- Thread starter Dirty Nails
- Start date
pwk5017
Shohin
I get this on some of my developing tridents in the ground. I always suspected winter damage, but I am only zone 6. Now that you bring this up from a warmer zone, I am interested to see if there has an alternative cause.
Beng
Omono
Sunlight. Those branches aren't getting enough. I lost a branch on one of my tridents this year too. You have to be on top of the turning, defoliating, and tilting with tridents or branches die back in my experience.
Don Blackmond
Omono
defoliating will help, even if partial defoliation.
another issue might be compacted roots. if you wait too long between repotting you can get dieback.
Tridents are pretty resilient but they do best when water and air move through soil easily and light and air move through branching.
another issue might be compacted roots. if you wait too long between repotting you can get dieback.
Tridents are pretty resilient but they do best when water and air move through soil easily and light and air move through branching.
Dirty Nails
Shohin
I think we have the answer. I missed my repotting window on this and just slip potted it into a container this spring. It was not rootbound but the pot was FULL of white fleshy healthy roots.
I was sheepish about this not being "my tree" as I purchased it in full glory. Now that I have screwed it up and am in the rebuilding phase it is mine. So much to learn so little time...But on the plus side I haven't killed a tree in a couple years.
