Hello, My Abies Pinsapo's new growth has dried up. Last years growth is still green. Is he salvageable? I put him in the ground last January. He's about 12 inches tall.
After having my Abies pinsapo 'Aurea' do the same thing the first year I had it, I learned a lesson not to give the newest growth any warm, direct sun as the new growth is emerging. It did not take much to fry the newest growth on mine. A photo or two would be helpful to better understand what you are up against but in my case it was lack of water and direct sunlight that caused my new growth to be harmed. Jim
Thinking about it, sounds like that's what happened. Thanks for sharing your experience. Did you wind up moving him to a different location? Guess that's what I will doing today.
Mine was grown in a container for a few years before I moved it up to near Yosemite and planted it. For you in Marin county, I would protect it from hot afternoon sun but be sure to protect it from any kind of warm winds. An Eastern exposure would work here to protect that Fir from the hot sun and warm winds. Even still it will be a project until the plant becomes adapted here. We are a little too warm for that Fir on the Valley floor. For you if an Eastern exposure would block it from the prevailing winds and can give it some mid to late afternoon shade then you can grow it where you are providing you give it enough water. Be careful not to over water it, don't let water set for long periods of time around the roots. I would not fertilize this tree with Nitrogen for a couple of years as you want the root system to become established without added harm done to the roots if the plant is in the ground or even grown in a container. When select Conifers such as Fir and Spruce are generating new growth we have to make sure they have plenty of water or the new growth will just wither and die on us here. Makes our job tougher to keep the rest of the young plant alive and hope that we can get more new growth later in the year. Jim
Hello Again, Is it all right to remove/clip the dead growth? Or, will new growth appear on the tips of it? What did you do with your Aurea's damaged growth?
If you are sure the new growth is dead then rub off the dead growth with your fingers and pinch off any of the dead tips. I would not cut the dead growth off with pruning shears unless you have to. The rubbing off the growth and hand pinching may allow you a better chance to get new growth in some of those same areas again. New growth may regenerate but more likely not anytime soon from the areas cut or snipped with pruning shears. Jim
