? Rowan tree struggling

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone had any ideas why my tree is struggling to grow this year.

Its been in position and thriving for over 6 years. Every year it is the first to blossom, lots of green and lots of shade, usually in April.

It has been like this for over a month, there are new buds that haven’t developed into anything. No sign of any infestation of anything alarming? All plants around seem to be fine.
I have given it lots of water and feed which did seem to help. I even cut off the dead berries. Any ideas would be really welcomed. Thankyou

 

I think it’s a Rowan tree, has red berries in the winter.

 

Also known as the mountain ash. A clue to the conditions that it normally grows in. Make sure that you keep it well watered and give it plenty of mulch to keep the moisture in.

 

Is the planting space well draining and open to the earth below? They like moisture but don't like being waterlogged. It could also be that the rootball is now congested and it needs a new location with more space.

 

I am starting wonder if drainage is the issue.. usually I can give it a whole watering can without it flooding but recently it has been flooding on smaller quantities of water.
Unfortunately there is no where else to move it too.
Maybe I’ll try to water little and often so..?
Thankyou for your help

 

I noticed your patio surrounds the planting area which looks solidly grouted between the slabs. Does rain water run off the patio away from the tree or towards it? I think that unless in a pot, you should consider the rootball to be about the same scale as the top growth. Which perhaps means most of the roots are dry due to the patio preventing rain getting there. The last couple of years were very wet, but we've had a relatively dry spring, so that might be stressing it.

 

That is probably the case. It is rather level and doesn’t noticeable get much rain water. I’ll stick to watering little an often and hopefully it won’t appear so water logged.
It’s been the best growing thing in the garden I think it’s been neglected. Thankyou for all your advice

 

I think little and often is not good for trees - it encourages surface roots which are then vulnerable to the weather. If you can hammer a metal pipe next to it as far as possible into the ground and use that to get a LOT of water deep down. Stick a hose in it and let it run for 30 mins. Doing that occasionally would probably be better.

 

The tree looks like my favourite Rowan, Sorbus Sargentiana. If yours has red sticky buds and huge bunches of orange berries then my guess is correct.
It really does not look happy at all. My Sorbus have a fair number of surface roots and yours will be getting little or no moisture due to it being planted into a patio. It could well be the area you can water is too wet and the rest of the tree roots are bone dry.
If I am correct these trees are pretty substantial and I am not at all sure it is the right tree for where it is planted unfortunately. I wish I could be of more help but I fear it is outgrowing its allotted space and not very happy about it.
These are what they look like when given plenty of room to grow. These were taken a few years ago, they are now about 20 ft tall and double the girth.Apologies if I have misidentified your tree.

 

Lovely pix @hailbopp
I'd agree - that landscaping has probably caused problems. They tend to have quite wide, but not terribly deep root systems, eventually, which makes them quite easy to move, but also means they struggle long term if they don't have that width/room.
However, there's also the possibility, from what you've described with the watering, that there's a solid area of compaction lower down, which means that the roots can't get through to access nutrition and moisture well enough, so the deeper roots are dry, as hailbopp describes, or the opposite - waterlogged. Just having works done creates solid areas, especially on clay soil. Sandy, light soil isn't ideal for them unless they have regular water, and even then, it isn't really ideal without help.
I don't know whereabouts you are in the country, but rowans of all kinds grow very easily up here. The native ones grow on rocky outcrops on hills, on minimal soil [largely moss and a bit of general debris] because the rainfall is regular, but they can also drain well enough. They also grow at the side of burns which rarely get dry, but they have access to suitable soil. Peaty, clay mostly.
Those won't grow to the same size as garden cultivars in a standard border/bed, but it shows that they can manage as long as they have water and reasonable drainage.
It's never a good idea to water little and often, even with shallow rooting plants - especially trees and shrubs. I think you may need to re site it, even potting it up temporarily, and look at sorting the ground it's been in. That may not work though.

 

Lovely photos! Yes that’s my tree! I’m gutted as I often think it’s is so beautiful through the year! I am gutted. It has been great for 6 years and every day it looks more unhappy.
Thank you for your extremely helpful tips!! I would have continued little and often with watering thinking it was for the best. I will get a metal pipe tomorrow and put it in the furthest part and hit it down deep. I really hope it helps.


Not to be too negative but if it doesn’t survive… any particular tree you would recommend to go here? Ideally like something with shade and safe for cats. Very specific haha

 

If you can offer more info about your location [just roughly] and your soil conditions/climate etc, that will help with suggestions @Aly1234 . Some trees/shrubs won't like alkaline soil for example.
If you have dislikes - that's also helpful. Many people don't like things like Ilex [holly] because it's prickly, or certain colours etc.
Getting the ground properly prepped is the best way to help any shrub or tree establish and thrive. With the site you have, it might be easier to create a large raised bed for any new plant. That makes it easier even if the ground isn't great further down, and you can get the soil mix right before you buy.
Something like a Philadelphus might suit [lots of varieties] if you can sort the site out properly, as they're quite tough, but can be pruned and shaped to suit a space. Amelanchier is another fairly easy tree [several types] or even something like Euonymus alatus, which give great autumn colour.

 

I took the stones out last night to see if that would help before I put a metal pipe in tomorrow. Very solid/clay soil.
Thanks you, I want this tree haha! It was perfect. I’m in the east of England, does get a lot of sun where it is. Was great for shade this time of year.

 

Rowans will cope with any amount of water, and also clay soil, but if the water can't drain well enough, that will continue to be a problem. A solid layer of clay can cause a huge issue because of that, and as it's been compacted by footfall during your renovations, that is highly likely.
The fact that you mention recent waterlogging also suggests that the ground now can't cope easily with larger quantities of water. You probably don't get enough regular rainfall to create a bigger problem, but I think the problem wil only continue to get worse as the rootball will struggle. I personally wouldn't try putting a pipe in, but that's your choice.
Digging the area out, and thoroughly improving it all, is the only real, long term solution. As you have a raised area with sleepers in behind it, you could raise the area to the same level instead, but you'd still have to remove the tree itself, fill with an appropriate mix, and replant.

Long term strong sun is also difficult for them as the foliage will scorch more easily. Wind does the same.

 

Thankyou. I have dug it out and got rid of the stone. Out down a layer of membrane and will water every 3 days. I’ve avoided the pipe for now. Was looking at maybe adding some feed, cant find anything specific that will benefit.


Fingers crossed it comes back to life