How to revive newly planted lemon myrtle with curled leaves?

dooks

hi. My planted this gorgeous lemon myrtle that I had in the pot for three years, into my garden along with other natives to screen off the street.

It seems to have curled up its toes and I don’t know what to do. Does anyone have a suggestion. The other trees seem to be doing fine.
I tried watering it thinking that would be help but it hasn’t. Do you think maybe I’ve overwatered it though? I haven’t for the last few days as I know natives don’t like a lot of water.

EricL

Hello @dooks

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your lemon myrtle.

It does look like your lemon myrtle is going through a bit of transplant shock rather than anything terminal. The drooping, limp leaves are a classic sign that the roots haven’t quite settled into the new soil yet, so the plant is struggling to take up moisture even if the soil itself is damp.

You’re right to be cautious with watering natives, but in this early stage it’s less about “how often” and more about “how deeply.” Light, frequent watering can actually make things worse. Instead, give it a slow, deep soak every few days so the water reaches down to the root ball, then let the top layer dry slightly before the next watering. Also just check that the soil is draining well if it stays soggy, that can stress the roots too.

A gentle tonic can really help it bounce back. Something like Seasol Seaweed Concentrate is ideal, it’s not a fertiliser, so it won’t overwhelm the plant, but it helps reduce transplant stress and encourages root recovery. Apply it as a soil drench around the base.

If you haven’t already, a layer of mulch (kept a few centimetres away from the trunk) will help stabilise moisture and temperature as well.

The good news is lemon myrtles are quite resilient. Once it re-establishes its roots over the next few weeks, it should start to perk up again.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric