They’re having a plant clinic over at Garden Rant, and I decided to submit the perplexing, premature leaf drop my ‘Autumn Brilliance’ Juneberry exhibits every year. The leaf drop was addressed in today’s clinic, but since they didn’t show all the images, I thought I’d share them here.
This is what my Juneberry looked like about a week ago
By late June, some of the leaves show spots and the berries are starting to turn color
By early July, some leaves are starting to turn yellow. They will soon drop.
Here's what the leaves look like in early August
By mid-August, the tree is about three-quarters defoliated.
The native, wild-grown Juneberries hug the edge of the field.
About Kathy Purdy
Kathy Purdy discovered the joys of writing in fourth grade, when she started corresponding with a former classmate. She's been writing letters ever since, first on looseleaf, then electronically, and now as weblog entries. That makes you, the blog reader, her pen pal. Her first independent (though frustrating) attempts at gardening were made in high school, though the gardening bug didn't bite hard until her mid-thirties, when she found herself mistress of a rural home on 15 acres. • USDA Hardiness Zone:4 • AHS Heat Zone: 3 • Location: rural; Southern Tier of NY • Geographic type: foothills of Appalachian Mountains • Soil Type: acid clay • Experience level: intermediate • Particular interests: colchicums, narcissus, cottage gardening, NY native plants, gardening with/for children
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I can’t help with the defoliation problem, but I’m chuckling over your quote about the three deceased rocks in the garden. Thank heaven SOMETHING is immune to pests and death. Although I suppose rocks that wear away from the elements can ‘die’ when they’re all the way gone . . .
.-= VW´s last blog ..April in Spokane and Progress on Front Makeover =-.
Twitter: @JeanDigGrowComp
What a shame as it’s such a pretty little tree when in bloom. I’ve never seen those trees down here so have no experience with them. I hope you find out what it is.
Judging by the brown spots on the leaves, I would say it’s some sort of fungus. You might check with your local Extension agent. They can be a lot of help with things like this.
Suzanne
.-= Window On The Prairie´s last blog ..Six Hours In Omaha =-.
Twitter: @commonweeder
I don’t know anything about serviceberries yet, including where to plant them. After I got tiny seedlings from the Conservation District last year I found they are deer candy – so putting them next to the Potager is not a good idea. But I am going to have to find a safe location soon.
.-= commonweeder´s last blog ..Perfectly Pink =-.
Twitter: @brvogt
This isn’t apple-cedar rust is it? I have several servicberries and worry about their proximity to eastern red cedars, which each spring show large orange gulls ful of spores that may, some day, attach the serviceberries. Hope not. Maybe I’m way off here.
.-= Benjamin´s last blog ..Exhibit A-Z for Not Having Lawn =-.