How long till new sugar maple greens?

[Darryl]

I planted two bare-root sugar maple trees (3-4' high) about 3-4 weeks ago, & they still haven't shown a sign of green.

How long should I wait for leaf buds before concluding that they died?

[Cereus-validus.......]

If they still haven't produced new leaves, they might be dead.

If a young twig snaps when you bend it and is dry inside, its a good indication the tree is dead.

Another indication a tree is dead is if there is no new root growth.

[Travis]

July is not the proper time to plant bare root trees. They were probably already dead when you put them in the ground.

[William Wagner]

I agree flexibility is a good sign not only in plant both with humans. We always bend branches and if they snap get ready to remove but my other half tells me to wait a year. ;)) I'm prone to seek out and kill borers with no mercy and have been known to feed them to my fish. Bag worms ....you don't want to know.

Aside

I shot them with my BB Gun HA Ha Ha Ha hhhhhhh (insane laugh)

Bill

[enigma]

"Travis" wrote in news:0I8Ie.12621$Bx5.7129@trnddc09:

yup, even a bare root tree would have leaves in July if it was alive. are the leaf buds brittle? are they even existant?

lee

[bamboo]

What continent are you on? In North America it's no tiime for bare root stock.

[Darryl]

They were planted in June, not July. Where I live you can't even plant until May anyway, unless you want to dig through the snow.

I just purchased the house; I had no opportunity to plant before then, & not enough patience to wait another 10 months.

I watered the trees heavily every other day, but I just tested them, & I think you are right; they were dead before they were shipped to me. The twigs snap easily, & the leaf buds are dried. I had great luck planting privet hedges in June, but I guess hedges aren't the same as trees. I'll have to try again next spring. Thanks to everyone for the responses.