I Planted A Bare Root Dormant Sassafras Tree In Early May. When It Arrived I Immediately Put In In Water And The Next Day Planted

Question

it. I used sterile garden topsoil. I have kept it watered but not soaking it. Some of the branches have died back and it never lea fed out. It is now August and the trunk is as green as the day I planted it. I have been told that these trees may remain dormant all summer and leaf out the next spring. Any truth to this? I planted a bare root dormant sassafras tree in early may. When it arrived I immediately put in in water and the next day planted it. I used sterile garden topsoil. I have kept it watered but not soaking it. Some of the branches have died back and it never leafed out. It is now August and the trunk is as green as the day I planted it. I have been told that these trees may remain dormant all summer and leaf out the next spring. Any truth to this?

Answer 1

Did you incorporate the garden soil into the planting hole or is it in a container? These trees have a long tap root so they should be in the ground. Is it in full or part sun? A lack of light could retard leafing out. I suggest checking with the seller as to why this tree is not growing. It should have leafed out. And the twig dieback is not a good sign. Most garden centers and nurseries offer a year's guarantee on their trees.

I didn't find any source that said they were slow growers or could remain dormant through the summer.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/sassafras/what-is-a-sassafras-tree.htm

https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/laurel-wilt

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/tree-leafing-problems.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/tree-scratch-test.htm

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/sassafras-albidum/