Re: Will it survive?????

Pamela,
One thing you mention is abit disturbing, what do you
mean by planted deeply?  Most all trees should always
be planted an inch or two higher than the surrounding
soil, to allow for eventual settling, and avoid the
base of trunk settling below the surrounding grade.

Your bout of freezing cold probably defoliated the
tree, and it may just leaf out again with warming of
temps in April/May.  It has easily survived -4C
extended freezes here in morthern California, but much
lower than this and for extended periods of time often
results in die back of fairly large diameter branches.

This tree also wants good drainage, so make sure it
isn't planted too low or roots remain saturated from
poor drainage in winter.  Also, related to your
question of the Poinsettia, I would only prune off
obviously dead branches, and if it was cold enough, it
may only regrow from the base.  This tends to only
survive freezes here in northern California where it
is planted against a south or west facing wall, and
has the added heat/protection of a building. 
Certainly it is much less hardy than the Schinus molle
to bad frost.

Also, I don't know if you are aware how difficult it
is to garden under a mature Schinus molle, and how
much litter they create.  This is a tree that I would
never plant over a patio(unless you don't mind
sweeping daily), or try to intensively garden under,
best used perhaps in outlying parts of the garden or
along driveways, where constant leaf litter isn't an
issue.  Beautiful trees for shade and beauty, but not
for a small garden.  They are also very prone to
attack from scale and a psillid that destorts the leaf
here in northern California, and even more prone to
insects where grown along the cooler coastal areas.


--- Pamela Steele <pamela@nznf.co.uk> wrote:

> Oh dear!     The leaves are falling from my lovely
> Schinus Molle planted end
> of January. It looks so sad and it was really
> healthy looking when we bought
> it. We have had unusual below zero temps here. It
> was planted deeply and has
> been watered and well looked after. There is a
> little new growth on the top.
> We haven't had any REALLY warm days yet.l  Will it
> survive?????  The Carob
> which was planted at the same time looks great.
> 
> Pamela
> 
> 



		
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