We planted a JM (about 3 yr old tree) about 1 month ago. He seemed to be doing just fine, happy, watered once a day in Northern CA in the AM. He sits in the front of the house, gets AM sun, and is shaded from the southern and west heat beat. The soil is a mix of top soils, clay, and ROCK...I have not layed mulch yet, and he is the correct depth... Yesterday as I walked by him, 95% of his leaves had wilted and curled up. HE WAS NOT THIS WAY THE DAY BEFORE! The drip lines are working, and I gave him some extra water, hosed him down, but he didn't seem much better this morning. :( I have another JM on the other side of the house with the same sun/water ratio and he seems to be doing fine. Any ideas on why his leaves all of the sudden dried up (some are crunchy, some are curled but not dried)? We have had a very mild start to the summer (upper 70's low 80s) and he only has sun until 12-130ish... I don't have a picture of him to post yet, but imagine a very sad tree with all leaves curled up. His branches are still flexible, not rigid. Thanks!
Maybe you watered him too much? Is the drainage good there? Clay doesn't sound too nice. I have lots of clay and I plant all my JMs in raised beds with good topsoil. Clay = death to JMs. I had an Acer Circinatum 'Sunny Sister' croak on me overnight like that from a different cause. Come to find out the plant had a weak spot at the base of the trunk and the winds had wiggled it enough til it split at the main root junction. Instantly dried up. Fortunately I have a graft I took this winter that's doing well! LOL!
