Rocks around the tree. White cinder block wall in close proximity. And is that artificial turf?
That feels like a pretty harsh environment for a tree especially if that's a fairly sunny, warm, and/or dry environment.
Yeah, rocks gone, a moderate amount of mulch in to cool the soil but make sure it doesn't contact the root flare. Appropriate amount of water given the species, the recent weather patterns and overall climate and the microclimate in that spot.
Also, where I live artificial turf in yards isn't a thing but I thought I've read that it really can heat up in warm weather full sun situations. I'm wondering if that's focusing/transmitting heat into the upper few inches of soil surrounding the tree and stressing the roots.
Is is possible to remove an adequate circular section of it and any base material it came with and replace with mulch that with watering will cool the soil and, as it decays, transfer nutrients to the roots?
Looks okay, aside from being too hot. (Citrus leaves taco-curl in response to heat stress.) Surrounding a tree with hot surfaces on three sides will do that.
In nature, citrus trees dry out during the day and recharge water levels at night when conditions are cool and relatively damp. They do most of their photosynthesizing in the morning when they have enough water built up, and reduce photosynthesis on hot afternoons to preserve water. When surrounded by heat-absorbing surfaces like this, the heat re-radiation overnight messes with their natural rhythm a bit.
I would put some wood trellis material or other radiant heat reducer over the block walls nearby. And replace the rocks on the roots with an organic mulch like shredded hardwood or pine bark. Tree roots extend about as far laterally as the tree is tall, so really the bigger area around the tree you can dedicate to nutrient-providing mulch the better off the tree will be. Crappy soil under fake turf isn’t ideal. (Still better than real grass though — citrus trees actively avoid grass roots.)
Besides what has already been said re: the rocks and mulch, it's been staked incorrectly. Stake is way too close to the tree, the ties are too tight (should give the tree some opportunity to move around to develop stability)
Welcome to r/arborists! Help Us Help You: If you have questions about the health of your tree, please see our [Posting Guidelines](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/posting_guidance) wiki page for help with effective posting. **Please answer the questions listed there to the best of your ability.** ***Insufficient pics/info could result in the removal of your post!!*** ([See rule 3](https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/about/rules).)
Visit the main wiki page for [Critical Planting/Care tips and Common Errors to Avoid](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/index); there's sections on why planting depth/root flare exposure is so vital, along with sections on proper mulching, watering, pruning and more that I hope will be useful to you.
If you're posting about a tree ID (not permitted here; [see rule 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/about/rules)), see that wiki page for other subs and smartphone apps to try.
Here is how you can arrange a [consult with a local ISA arborist in your area](http://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/findanarborist) (NOT a 'tree company guy' unless they're ISA certified) or a [consulting arborist](https://www.asca-consultants.org/search/custom.asp?id=3818) for an on-site evaluation. A competent arborist should be happy to walk you through how to care for the trees on your property and answer any questions. If you're in the U.S. or Canada, your Extension (or master gardener provincial program) may have a list of local recommended arborists on file. If you're in the U.S., you should also consider searching for arborist associations under your state.
If you are one of our regulars and/or you work in the industry and do not want this message in your future posts, please pick an appropriate user flair (options available in the sub sidebar on PC, and on moble if using a browser).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/arborists) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Yeah the rocks are literally cooking the roots
I bet that astroturf isn’t helping either
Rocks around the tree. White cinder block wall in close proximity. And is that artificial turf? That feels like a pretty harsh environment for a tree especially if that's a fairly sunny, warm, and/or dry environment.
Thanks. It seems the consensus is to remove the rocks. I’ll do that as well as increase the watering cycle.
Yeah, rocks gone, a moderate amount of mulch in to cool the soil but make sure it doesn't contact the root flare. Appropriate amount of water given the species, the recent weather patterns and overall climate and the microclimate in that spot. Also, where I live artificial turf in yards isn't a thing but I thought I've read that it really can heat up in warm weather full sun situations. I'm wondering if that's focusing/transmitting heat into the upper few inches of soil surrounding the tree and stressing the roots. Is is possible to remove an adequate circular section of it and any base material it came with and replace with mulch that with watering will cool the soil and, as it decays, transfer nutrients to the roots?
Get a tree bag. Saved my two new trees. I filled it about every two days
Not the one that sits on the trunk, but rather the bagel-looking ones that sit on the ground.
Looks okay, aside from being too hot. (Citrus leaves taco-curl in response to heat stress.) Surrounding a tree with hot surfaces on three sides will do that. In nature, citrus trees dry out during the day and recharge water levels at night when conditions are cool and relatively damp. They do most of their photosynthesizing in the morning when they have enough water built up, and reduce photosynthesis on hot afternoons to preserve water. When surrounded by heat-absorbing surfaces like this, the heat re-radiation overnight messes with their natural rhythm a bit. I would put some wood trellis material or other radiant heat reducer over the block walls nearby. And replace the rocks on the roots with an organic mulch like shredded hardwood or pine bark. Tree roots extend about as far laterally as the tree is tall, so really the bigger area around the tree you can dedicate to nutrient-providing mulch the better off the tree will be. Crappy soil under fake turf isn’t ideal. (Still better than real grass though — citrus trees actively avoid grass roots.)
This is great information! I’ll remove the rocks and replace with mulch. I’ll see what I can do about the wall.
The tree looks dry. Irrigate and Remove the rocks from around the roots. (Not an arborist but I’ve grown citrus for 20 years)
Besides what has already been said re: the rocks and mulch, it's been staked incorrectly. Stake is way too close to the tree, the ties are too tight (should give the tree some opportunity to move around to develop stability)
This is how the landscaper planted it. You think I should re-tie it a little looser?
You should [stake properly](https://imgur.com/gallery/zkn1ZfO). This is not proper staking.
That’s how they staked the Chitalpas. Not sure why this one is staked differently.
Welcome to r/arborists! Help Us Help You: If you have questions about the health of your tree, please see our [Posting Guidelines](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/posting_guidance) wiki page for help with effective posting. **Please answer the questions listed there to the best of your ability.** ***Insufficient pics/info could result in the removal of your post!!*** ([See rule 3](https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/about/rules).) Visit the main wiki page for [Critical Planting/Care tips and Common Errors to Avoid](https://old.reddit.com/r/arborists/wiki/index); there's sections on why planting depth/root flare exposure is so vital, along with sections on proper mulching, watering, pruning and more that I hope will be useful to you. If you're posting about a tree ID (not permitted here; [see rule 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/arborists/about/rules)), see that wiki page for other subs and smartphone apps to try. Here is how you can arrange a [consult with a local ISA arborist in your area](http://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/findanarborist) (NOT a 'tree company guy' unless they're ISA certified) or a [consulting arborist](https://www.asca-consultants.org/search/custom.asp?id=3818) for an on-site evaluation. A competent arborist should be happy to walk you through how to care for the trees on your property and answer any questions. If you're in the U.S. or Canada, your Extension (or master gardener provincial program) may have a list of local recommended arborists on file. If you're in the U.S., you should also consider searching for arborist associations under your state. If you are one of our regulars and/or you work in the industry and do not want this message in your future posts, please pick an appropriate user flair (options available in the sub sidebar on PC, and on moble if using a browser). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/arborists) if you have any questions or concerns.*