New tree not doing well

[Gus]

We just bought a 15-foot tall Hawthorne tree in Westchester County (that's north of NYC) from a reputable nursery. But it's not doing that well.

It's been planted 2 weeks and while there are small buds on many branches, they seem brown and withered. It is not dead but seems to be struggling.

We asked the nursery and they said it was a very cold winter so don't expect much and you have to give it a month for the weather to warm up.

Maybe that's true but is there something we should be doing? How would I know if they didn't plant it well? It has been kept watered (not soaked, it gets water every day). And it is in a sunny spot.

Does a newly planted tree often do poorly when it's moved?

[Babberney]

Transplant shock is common and normal. If this was a container-grown tree, it may be planted too deeply--the first root flares should be visible above the soil surface. Otherwise, just keep it watered without leaving it soggy and give it time to adjust. For more info, see

Keith Babberney Isa Certified Arborist For more info about the International Society of Arboriculture, please visit

consumer info about tree care, visit

[Kay Lancaster]

Yes, but... did they tarp the top or transport it in a closed truck when they moved it? Driving down the highway for an hour or two with the wind whipping past really dries out trees pretty badly, especially if they're moisture-stressed to begin with.

An old consulting arborist I knew used to insist the north side of the tree had to be marked in the field, and then the tree replanted with the mark to the north; that the chance of sunscald of the trunk was greatly lessened by doing so. And he seemed to be right, from my observations.

Pretty good site: