Elm leaves yellowing.

noissee · 05-10-2009, 02:48 PM

This elm has been very healthy until today. I noticed some red mites a few days ago, and I sprayed it with insecticidal soap. Hadn't seen any bugs since, but this morning there were a number of yellowing leaves.
Any advice is appreciated. thnx

clwagner167 · 05-10-2009, 09:15 PM

First thing that comes to mind...overwatering? Do you water on a schedule or as needed basis? Only water any plant/tree when needed. You can check with your finger along the trunk line about an inch down. When almost dry, water evenly and thoroughly until the water starts to come out of the bottom of the pot. Repeat only when necessary. Keep in mind their environment is always changing and you have to act accordingly. The type of soil used plays a major roll as well. Most trees die from over/under watering.

Hope this helps...

noissee · 05-10-2009, 10:58 PM

Thanks Cheryl. I water as-needed. I keep a chop stick in the pot to check the moisture all the way through. I mix my own soil with pine bark and volcanic rock, it is free draining, but usually takes a couple days to dry out at this time of year. I highly doubt it is a water issue, but I will double check the moisture level in the bottom of the pot.

clwagner167 · 05-11-2009, 02:53 AM

Cool! Let us know what you come up with? If it's not a water issue, you need to go through an elimination process to get to the bottom of the issue.

Good luck,

Glider · 05-11-2009, 04:32 AM

It looks like older leaves that are turning. Mine does this too at this time of year. It does it every year as the oldest leaves are shed in favour of the new year's growth. Could this be it?

philgrayser · 05-11-2009, 05:29 AM

Hi there noissee i get leaves like this on my Elms usually after a week of rain!!
I agree with Cheryl that it looks like too much water.
If a tree has mites (Red spider mite by the sounds of it) they wont do this to the leaves - the leaves usually have tiny whitish spots on them where the mites have been sucking nutrients through the leaves and at worst the leaves turn brown and die but the tree usually has to be totally covered in mites for this to happen. cheers Phil G.

noissee · 05-11-2009, 10:41 AM

Glider, this tree loses all of its leaves over winter. Are you saying it might shed the first growth of leaves it got this spring?

Phil, I hope this is all it is. Should I let it get really dry before watering again?

philgrayser · 05-11-2009, 11:31 AM

Yeh let it dry untill the leaves start to droop, then you know it needs watered thats how i water all my plants.
I would also check the roots to see what they look like, sometimes with too much water the roots go brown and mushy (not white and hairy like healthy roots) if they are brown cut them off and stick the tree in a shaded corner for a few weeks to recover, hope this helps cheers phil G.

noissee · 05-11-2009, 02:47 PM

Thanks, I'll pull it out and have a peek.

clwagner167 · 05-11-2009, 03:09 PM

Hi,

Call me the typical careful female, but I don't fly by the seat of my pants too often, especially where my trees are concerned. And, that is exactly what I think you will be doing if you allow this tree to completely dry out to the point that it is drooping. It has been stressed out by mites, and now by overwatering, you don't want to kill it do you?

Water it when it needs it. If you have any Superthrive, that wouldn't hurt either. Let us know how it works out.

P.S. Phil has a good idea, you don't want it to have root rot as well.

Good Luck,

05-10-2009, 09:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
clwagner167 "Grasshopper" Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: S.E. Michigan Posts: 102	First thing that comes to mind...overwatering? Do you water on a schedule or as needed basis? Only water any plant/tree when needed. You can check with your finger along the trunk line about an inch down. When almost dry, water evenly and thoroughly until the water starts to come out of the bottom of the pot. Repeat only when necessary. Keep in mind their environment is always changing and you have to act accordingly. The type of soil used plays a major roll as well. Most trees die from over/under watering. Hope this helps... __________________ ~ Cheryl Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Buddha Please support "your" site and click on the ads. _________________________________________ In memory of my dear friend.... "Prowler" Victor Gray 1943-2008 Last edited by clwagner167; 05-11-2009 at 02:49 AM.. Reason: oops-grammer!

05-11-2009, 02:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
clwagner167 "Grasshopper" Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: S.E. Michigan Posts: 102	Keep us updated Cool! Let us know what you come up with? If it's not a water issue, you need to go through an elimination process to get to the bottom of the issue. Good luck, __________________ ~ Cheryl Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Buddha Please support "your" site and click on the ads. _________________________________________ In memory of my dear friend.... "Prowler" Victor Gray 1943-2008

05-11-2009, 03:09 PM	#10 (permalink)
clwagner167 "Grasshopper" Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: S.E. Michigan Posts: 102	I don't know about that guys..... Hi, Call me the typical careful female, but I don't fly by the seat of my pants too often, especially where my trees are concerned. And, that is exactly what I think you will be doing if you allow this tree to completely dry out to the point that it is drooping. It has been stressed out by mites, and now by overwatering, you don't want to kill it do you? Water it when it needs it. If you have any Superthrive, that wouldn't hurt either. Let us know how it works out. P.S. Phil has a good idea, you don't want it to have root rot as well. Good Luck, __________________ ~ Cheryl Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Buddha Please support "your" site and click on the ads. _________________________________________ In memory of my dear friend.... "Prowler" Victor Gray 1943-2008 Last edited by clwagner167; 05-11-2009 at 03:12 PM..

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05-10-2009, 10:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
noissee Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: florida panhandle Posts: 206	Thanks Cheryl. I water as-needed. I keep a chop stick in the pot to check the moisture all the way through. I mix my own soil with pine bark and volcanic rock, it is free draining, but usually takes a couple days to dry out at this time of year. I highly doubt it is a water issue, but I will double check the moisture level in the bottom of the pot.

05-11-2009, 04:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
Glider Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 70	It looks like older leaves that are turning. Mine does this too at this time of year. It does it every year as the oldest leaves are shed in favour of the new year's growth. Could this be it?

05-11-2009, 05:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
philgrayser philgrayser Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 120	Hi there noissee i get leaves like this on my Elms usually after a week of rain!! I agree with Cheryl that it looks like too much water. If a tree has mites (Red spider mite by the sounds of it) they wont do this to the leaves - the leaves usually have tiny whitish spots on them where the mites have been sucking nutrients through the leaves and at worst the leaves turn brown and die but the tree usually has to be totally covered in mites for this to happen. cheers Phil G.

05-11-2009, 10:41 AM	#7 (permalink)
noissee Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: florida panhandle Posts: 206	Glider, this tree loses all of its leaves over winter. Are you saying it might shed the first growth of leaves it got this spring? Phil, I hope this is all it is. Should I let it get really dry before watering again?

05-11-2009, 11:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
philgrayser philgrayser Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 120	Yeh let it dry untill the leaves start to droop, then you know it needs watered thats how i water all my plants. I would also check the roots to see what they look like, sometimes with too much water the roots go brown and mushy (not white and hairy like healthy roots) if they are brown cut them off and stick the tree in a shaded corner for a few weeks to recover, hope this helps cheers phil G.

05-11-2009, 02:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
noissee Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: florida panhandle Posts: 206	Thanks, I'll pull it out and have a peek.

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