What would be the most likely reason that I recently planted conifer tree would lose all of its needles ?

Question

this is the second time I have planted in this spot.

The first time I planted was in May 2007. The tree had lost nealy all of its needles by middle to late summer.

This time I planted was in fall of 2007 and again by middle summer it is losing its needles.

Btw, the cultivar of this tree is Tsuga Canadensis Canadian Hemlock and it is 6 foot high and is planted in a hedge with 9 others.

I have watered it as well as the last one very well and I was wondering if It might be root rot, maybe there that area is holding water. So I dug the dirt up on one side of the tree last night and filled it with water and by the morning had drained down.

so I am not sure if it is root rot or not, but maybe I didnt dig far enough down.

what does it sound like to you in your expert opinion?

why and how so?

Thanks for your answers!

Answer 1

The soil may have the wrong ph balance for that particular type plant. Also, it could be drowning. Some trees obtain much of their needed water from the air.

Answer 2

don't rule out root aphids

Answer 3

We planted out our Christmas tree and it died off completely, all the stems and needles went brown.

Three weeks after the ends of the branches burst into bright green shoots and it now looks amazing.

Don't throw it out toooooooooo quickly!!

Answer 4

I'm betting it is root rot.  You are probably over watering the tree.  since it is in partial shade it doesn't need the same amount as the rest in the hedge because it isn't in the heat as much.  Plus it might not have the same drainage as the rest of them and the one next to it is starting to die too because it is receiving the excess water.  It shouldn't need any more than a gallon a day if it doesn't rain