I have a new tangelo tree about 2m tall we bought from a reputable nursery which came out and planted it for us. I am concerned because since it has been here 1 week all the leaves - new and old - have started to curl upward and are becoming a mottled yellow green and feel like sandpaper. Some leaves on the eastern side are in better shape. Also some of the tips are browning as if burned. Today I noticed many leaves have fallen off, but we did have a high-wind dust storm last night. We also have a silty-clay soil which the planters amended with something (I didn't ask what, I didn't realize it would be important). I was told to water it every other day for the first two weeks at a slow drip for at least 2 hours. I also fed it with a recommended citrus food. Should I assume a wait and see posture or does anyone think I should do something different? The nursery told me if it died they would replace it in 90 days (which will be July and 120 degrees F), but my son has already named the tree so I can't let it die.
It just might be that your tree is just a littke 'shocky' with the transplant. I wouldn't worry, yet. I'm sure this was not the first tree the nursery has planted in your area, and you do have a guarantee. Relax, have a couple of Sambucas, and let ol' Mom nature do her thing. Often they will grow in spite of what we think.
The proper method of planting a citrus tree (any citrus variety) is to dig a hole that is the same size as the root ball. It has never been a good idea to add any amendments to the soil when planting citrus. Do you know what size hole the nursery dug in relation to the tree's root ball? People wrongly think that they are doing a citrus tree a favor by digging a large hole and adding amendments. They believe that by doing so they are providing a favorable area for the tree's roots to grow. In actuality, what happens is they have provide a basin that becomes a lake, when the new tree is watered on a regularly daily or every other day basis. The tree's root system sets in a pool of water and develops root rot. With all this said, the pictures of your tree does not look all that bad. I would not worry much about leaf curl. Leaf curl is common with newly planted citrus, and some leaf drop can be expected, but EXCESSIVE leaf drop should not happen. Keep and eye on the tree, and be sure not to supply more water than required. - Millet
Thanks for the advice. I will watch its water and let it do its thing and see where we end up in a few months. My husband said the hole they dug was just big enough for the box the tree was in to sit in the hole. He also said whatever they put in with the rootball was only a negligible amount. Thanks again. -Kim
