21. Katsura Scratch Test
Shipping delays nearly killed my Katsura.
I wasn’t sure if a wilted Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum Japonicum) that I just planted would survive.
How it happened?
I ordered my Katsura tree on-line from FastGrowingTrees.com. The shipping time dragged on (over a week), and by the time my Katsura arrived, it looked wilted. I planted it immediately. Over the next few days, it looked even worse!
Photos after the Katsura tree was planted:
I contacted customer service and they told me to do a scratch test.
Scratch an area of about 1-2 inches of bark on the trunk of your tree, near the soil line with a coin or a fingernail. If you see green, then the plant is alive and should recover! Unfortunately, if you see brown or black underneath, then the plant is dead
My scratch test results:
It looked like we were still alive! I cut off the dead leaves, continued with regular watering, and hoped.
The Recovery
Photos of the Katsura Tree Recovery:
Not only did the Katsura bounce back, it even survived my 3-week summer holiday.
Katsura Tree - Cercidiphyllum japonicum
The next step should be to leave the poor plant alone. However, I am curious to try something with this apparently vigorous plant. I really wanted to buy a multi-stem Katsura tree ever since I fell in love with a magnificent Katsura that grew in the yard of a house that we rented. Despite a long search, I could not find a normal sized multi-stem katsura tree (see my post on the Katsura Tree Mistake…). This katsura is a single stem and it will take 50 years for it to reach its full height. To more quickly create a fuller, multi-stem tree, I am thinking of planting three more, younger katsura trees in the perimeter of this tree. Maybe that is a bad idea? Or maybe it is brilliant? Let’s find out!