Is it dead or domant?

I have three trees that are in distress: two maples and one thing (I have NO clue). The maples are behaving like it's mid-October, leaves changing color and dropping.

The on the other tree the ends of the leaves have turned brown/black and are curling. I completely soaked them all yesterday before the rain and I have water gators around the maples. Now, my question is - under these kinds of drought conditions do trees go dormant or is it time to cut these guys down?

 

I've seen your trees when I drive by. They're not dead. Yet. Keep the water coming to keep them alive and you should be fine. They're trying to go dormant which is why they have that pretty color right now! But the next color would be a lovely brown if you don't keep watering.

 

Well, geeze - at least honk & wave!

Thanks - I'll keep the gaitors filled.

 

If your trees are more than 3.5-4" caliper (diameter of trunk) gator bags do not get the water to the proper part of the root system that takes up the majority of the water/nutrients a tree needs.
To do this, go to the outside edge of the dripline (the outer edge of the leaves) at ground level. This is the fiberous root system that absorbs water, and distributes it where the tree needs it.
But keep the gator bags filled too - at this point, trees need all the water they can get.

 

Thanks BellaRu! I think they are right at 4" but I'll check.

 

OK - quick question:

TreeGator makes two kinds of water bags: The tall green ones & flat donut shaped ones which are much wider. Would THOSE be better for those maples? They are right at the 4" mark.

 

The flat, wide bags ( I call them donuts ) are for multi-stemmed trees and evergreens - however, they work just as well as the green upright bags do. And they are less obvious than the green bags. Either one will work. The donuts might be better, getting water out further than the green.