wilt pruf on maples

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nick Kuhn on May 23, 2012 at 11:54am

Hello,

I would recommend against using wilt-pruf since this time of year trees need transpiration for several reasons. 1. The straw-like capillary action moves necessary water throughout the tree 2. Transpiration cools the tree leaves which at this time of year its only going to get hotter 3. Wilt pruf is a temporary thing used when trees can't transpire enough water after digging from a field grown site.

Late season planting... (especially with 'no root ball' trees) is always a tough time but lots of water and cool soil thru mulching will help.

Good Luck

Permalink Reply by Joseph Fearn on May 23, 2012 at 12:06pm

Thank you. I think I will forgo applications to all of them. I will apply to one as a test. These trees were dug in March of this year and would definitely qualify as field grown. My concern is that lack of vital root mass in relation to leaf surface means these trees incapable of uptaking enough water even if there is water present in root ball. Root/shoot ratio is way out of whack. Thoughts?

Nick Kuhn said:

Hello,

I would recommend against using wilt-pruf since this time of year trees need transpiration for several reasons. 1. The straw-like capillary action moves necessary water throughout the tree 2. Transpiration cools the tree leaves which at this time of year its only going to get hotter 3. Wilt pruf is a temporary thing used when trees can't transpire enough water after digging from a field grown site.

Late season planting... (especially with 'no root ball' trees) is always a tough time but lots of water and cool soil thru mulching will help.

Good Luck

Permalink Reply by Jim Mitchell on May 23, 2012 at 12:42pm

Hopefully I can assume that you are talking about bare root.  We have had success when bare rooting B&B trees by using the 1 gal pr inch watering program for the first two weeks and then keeping close watch after that. We have killed some so this is not a gurantee.I have never used wilt pruf this way so to this I have to go with "no comment". There is a company called Bio Plex that swears by their product when planting bare root or digging in full leaf (bio-plex.com)

I would think Blaze for sure could handle this due to what they are crossed with.

Let us know what you decide and how it works out it's good research.

Jim

Permalink Reply by Nick Kuhn on May 23, 2012 at 12:50pm

minimum nursery standards put 12" wide of rootball per one inch caliper of tree trunk at 4" off ground... so how far out of whack is your biggest concern now.  Less rootball means less stable also and so while I don't like staking this situation may require it.  I still think more water and as Jim Mitchell just said they are pretty tough so its worth the shot