How to revive this struggling street tree?

John57

Look at those flourishing jonquils!

And look at the sad tree 🤔

Same soil, different results. It’s wet, acidic soil. 
I don’t know what kind of tree it is planted by the Whittlesea council. Or how to care for it. Seasol doesn’t help… any advice please?

BradN

Hi @John57 . That tree does not look great, does it? 

I don't know what it is, but I suspect that it is an Illawarra flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolius), which is one of the species on the Whittlesea council's list of street trees. Illawarra flame trees usually have a more deeply lobed leaf ("acerifolius" means "maple-leaf"), but that green, textured trunk makes me think that's what it is. Have you seen flame trees around the area covered in bright red flowers?

I also don't know what's wrong with it. How wet is the soil? If the soil is waterlogged it could be drowning and rotting the roots of the tree. The best thing to do might be to contact the council and ask them to take a look at it. 

Just for future reference, Seasol in the white bottle is not really a fertiliser. It's a health tonic that promotes root growth (which is great when you're planting, transplanting or repotting) and it has other beneficial effects.

For an all-purpose organic fertiliser you want Power Feed in the green bottle. It's made by the Seasol people and it's a similar kind of black, gloopy stuff, but it has the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that plants want in a fertiliser.

But you shouldn't have to fertilise a street tree. I would ask the council to come out and have a look at it.

Perhaps more knowledgeable Workshop members can offer more insight. But do please keep us updated. I would like to know what happens with this poor little tree.

Cheers,

Brad