Hello all,
Really hoping I can get some advice regarding my Western Larch before it's too late. I have had this tree for three years and it has always been a very strong, vigorous tree. I decided to repot it back in April (it didn't get any substantial root removal but some dead stranglers were clipped). It has been seemingly healthy throughout spring since the repot but about a week ago I started noticing the needles starting to wilt a little bit. We have been having some issues with some local Chipmunks (this is the reason for wrapping the trunk as seen in the pics below). They have been munching on my Dawn's and I just did this as a preventative measure.
My initial reaction is over watering. The weather has been a hair on the cold side here in central Oregon with it really starting to warm up over the last couple of weeks. So I have cut back on watering but that was only a few days ago. I have also moved it under a shade cover. It is planted in a 30/30/30 mix of Akadama, Pumice and Red Lava Rock and is in direct sun for about 4-5 hours a day, mixed shade for the rest.
Is there anything else I can do? I would be devastated to lose this one, I don't have many trees and I am particularly fond of this one. If I am too late please let me down softly
I appreciate any help you all can suggest,
Thanks,
Keaton
)
I'm not super hopeful, but did it make it?Okay, quick update and some new pictures. Since my last update the foliage on the tree has pretty much completely died. I made the tough decision to go ahead and get the tree out of the super shallow pot I had put it in back in April. Given our crazy dry climate this pot was a bit of a pipe dream anyway. I was very hesitant to re-pot it as I really didn't want to upset the roots but a few of you convinced me via private message that if I was extremely gentle with the roots there shouldn't be a problem. So I went ahead with it. I didn't trim any roots, just replanted it gently in a deeper pot.
I took some photo's of the roots while it was out of the soil and I don't really see anything too drastic to my eye, curious what you all will think. I also removed the netting from around the trunk as it appears the Chipmunks have moved on to the neighbors (I don't think they own a pellet gun
I am going to keep it on it's normal watering regiment and really just keep my fingers crossed....unless someone here has a better idea. Thank you everyone for the continued help. Even if the tree doesn't pull through maybe there is something here we can all take from this example. But fingers crossed it will pull through!
Thanks! Sorry to hear that, though.Hi There,
No, sadly this one never did come back. I am going to blame a borderline late re-pot. My fault in the end...live and learn. I have since acquired four other larch and am working on getting to understand the species better now. Onward and upward!!
Best of luck with your tree, hope it pulls through for you!
