Gardening

FSogol

(46,731 posts) Tue Jul 17, 2018, 03:39 PM Jul 2018

Gardening Mystery. Can you solve it?

Had a small mimosa tree in the side yard. It was growing twisted because of some big pines, so we dug it up and planted it by the garage.

We must have left a piece of the root behind, because another mimosa came up in the same spot. The pines trees were removed and the new mimosa stayed.

Two years later they are both about 20 feet tall. The one in the side yard has green leaves and the one by the garage has reddish colored trees. Both trees get the same amount of sunlight and water. The redder tree gets more flowers in the spring.

What gives? Why isn't it green? Any theories?

18 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Gardening Mystery. Can you solve it? (Original Post) FSogol Jul 2018 OP

Was the original tree grafted onto a local root stock? Chipper Chat Jul 2018 #1

No, it came up on its own. n/t FSogol Jul 2018 #6

That's what I think as well. LakeArenal Jul 2018 #16

Maybe different ph in the two locations? Could be some chemical spill by the garage in the past? Arkansas Granny Jul 2018 #2

I thought about soil. Since we have a lot of clay, whenever I plant something, FSogol Jul 2018 #10

Depending on how close the tree is to the Wellstone ruled Jul 2018 #17

or perhaps 2naSalit Jul 2018 #18

Mowed grass for people when I was a kid. You never have one mimosa - you have gazillions. tonyt53 Jul 2018 #3

This is the answer. Mimosas spread very easily from seed. They're considered to be enough Jul 2018 #8

Yeah, it could be a different mimosa seed, but big coincidence that it came up in the exact spot. n/ FSogol Jul 2018 #14

My guess would be it has something to do with what materials your garage is made of. dameatball Jul 2018 #4

It's the pines lamsmy Jul 2018 #5

Probably most likely. What should I add to counteract? n/t FSogol Jul 2018 #12

Just a guess but maybe the pine tree affected the chemical content of the soil? Siwsan Jul 2018 #7

Could the tree you dug up have been grafted? If so, the roots could easily make a different tree. TreasonousBastard Jul 2018 #9

I would suspect that the red one is taking up iron. vlyons Jul 2018 #11

I've found the occasional brick piece, but not much else. The clay is red. n/t FSogol Jul 2018 #13

Pine trees tend to produce acid soil; from breakdown of dropped needles I believe. GeorgeGist Jul 2018 #15

Chipper Chat

(10,096 posts)

1. Was the original tree grafted onto a local root stock?

Reply to FSogol (Original post)

Tue Jul 17, 2018, 03:42 PM

Jul 2018

Then the tree that grew from the roots may be the original plant. Just a guess.

FSogol

(46,731 posts)

6. No, it came up on its own. n/t

Reply to Chipper Chat (Reply #1)

Tue Jul 17, 2018, 03:42 PM

Jul 2018

LakeArenal

(29,855 posts)

16. That's what I think as well.

Reply to Chipper Chat (Reply #1)

Tue Jul 17, 2018, 04:15 PM

Jul 2018

Very common to graft to much more successful root.

Arkansas Granny

(31,869 posts)

2. Maybe different ph in the two locations? Could be some chemical spill by the garage in the past?

Reply to FSogol (Original post)

Tue Jul 17, 2018, 03:42 PM

Jul 2018

I don't know, I'm just throwing things out there.

FSogol

(46,731 posts)

10. I thought about soil. Since we have a lot of clay, whenever I plant something,

Reply to Arkansas Granny (Reply #2)

Tue Jul 17, 2018, 03:46 PM

Jul 2018

I take out a larger hole and replace it with good soil and stuff from the compost pile.

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)

17. Depending on how close the tree is to the

Reply to Arkansas Granny (Reply #2)

Tue Jul 17, 2018, 04:21 PM

Jul 2018

Garage foundation,this could be your issue. If memory works. The leaching of the lime from the cement will cause your tree to produce different leaf coloring. Sounds like it is a PH soil issue. Learned the hard way with Roses. Have to replace one of ours this winter due to a similiar issue. Our natural soil has a mega lime (Caleche Cement ) content. Going to dig this Rose out and widen the Hole and dig it deeper and back fill with Garden Soil from the Green House.

2naSalit

(93,505 posts)

18. or perhaps

Reply to Arkansas Granny (Reply #2)

Tue Jul 17, 2018, 05:40 PM

Jul 2018

the soil composition from the pine trees of the past, they have a tendency to change the ph in soil and make it hard for other plants to grow at their feet.

tonyt53

(5,737 posts)

3. Mowed grass for people when I was a kid. You never have one mimosa - you have gazillions.

Reply to FSogol (Original post)

Tue Jul 17, 2018, 03:42 PM

Jul 2018

I've seen them be different colors along the highways (they grow like weeds) and they can be different colors. Be glad you only have two.

enough

(13,466 posts)

8. This is the answer. Mimosas spread very easily from seed. They're considered to be

Reply to tonyt53 (Reply #3)

Tue Jul 17, 2018, 03:45 PM

Jul 2018

invasive plants in some areas. Not unusual from different trees grown from seed of the same tree to have variations in color, etc.

FSogol

(46,731 posts)

14. Yeah, it could be a different mimosa seed, but big coincidence that it came up in the exact spot. n/

Reply to enough (Reply #8)

Tue Jul 17, 2018, 03:50 PM

Jul 2018

dameatball

(7,603 posts)

4. My guess would be it has something to do with what materials your garage is made of.

Reply to FSogol (Original post)

Tue Jul 17, 2018, 03:42 PM

Jul 2018

Or if there are any other materials underneath the garage that would change the soil chemistry.

lamsmy

(155 posts)

5. It's the pines

Reply to FSogol (Original post)

Tue Jul 17, 2018, 03:42 PM

Jul 2018

I'm not an expert by any means, but my sister removed a pine from her yard and all the groundcover and nearby shrubs died. Apparently cutting the roots results in harmful toxins being released. It's a self defense mechanism of sorts for pine forests.