Our Mimosa tree just up and died!

dottile46

Last year was no different than the past 2 years. I saw nothing out of the ordinary, we didn't have a real cold winter, no severe drought, we did have more rain than usual last year but we didn't flood. There was a rock edged planting bed around it when we moved here. Last year I planted zinnias in it. This year I haven't even addressed that planting bed so the weeds have taken it over and look happy. 'There was one mimosa seedling in it early this year that I plucked out. Now the only seedling is in my strawberry bed.

It has no signs of life. I've looked around as I drive and see others leafed out and in bloom. Not ours. Dead! What the heck?

judsoncarroll4

I've had mimosa trees die suddenly and mysteriously, as well. I think something must have damaged the roots. There are plenty of them on farms around here that live for decades and were doing just fine, when the one in my yard just suddenly died. There were no signs of insect damage, and weather was not a problem.

shllnzl

Mimosas are supposed to have a short life span, 25 years. That said, my tree at my other house has lived past that.

@dottile46 I don't know where you live -- I have noticed weird tree die-backs here in S. Utah. My crepe myrtle had branch ends die back about a foot over winter and the mimosa across the street is showing the same damage. Luckily, both trees are still alive.

Winter was average temperatures for this area. Maybe the mysterious cause will be discovered someday.

dottile46

@judsoncarroll4 yep, no signs of insect damage in the bark, no splits in the bark or drainage. Japanese beetles weren't an issue here last year.

@shllnzl central MO. Haven't noticed any other trees with issues. Other than oak, all different kinds, we have hickory, cedar, a couple walnut trees and the fruit trees. I could have sworn I saw a leaf or two starting to pop out earlier this year when the hummingbirds first appeared. Maybe not though. We haven't sprayed any herbicides here since we bought it in 2017. Just a mystery.

judsoncarroll4

Since it is a leguminous tree, I wonder if it may be sensitive to the same pests that attack beans and peas, rather than typical tree bugs?

shllnzl

I had to continuously fight borer caterpillars in Nevada.

dottile46

@judsoncarroll4 good question. I did a bit of a search on that after I read your post and didn't come up with much. Maybe I just wasn't observant last fall. With only one seedling coming up that makes me think it probably wasn't doing well long before winter hit.

@shllnzl our neighbor told us this evening that the wood boring bees have set up housekeeping in their log cabin. Hope they don't run them up to us!

shllnzl

@dottile46 I would guess that your neighbor already had holes in his cabin walls as native bees do not do anything but put their eggs in existing holes.

I would guess my borers were the cicada variety as they hatch every year in Nevada. That is the only insect I saw in large quantities. Whatever borer it was is responsible for killing off huge branches and sometimes whole trees.

Acequiamadre

We lost our Paw Paw even though it didn't get that cold. We only had one so perhaps it perished of loneliness.

Any other thoughts?

My sadness for your tree.

shaley1357

MIMOSA.....the bane of my existence! Yes, it's a beautiful tree. My neighbor has ONE. Every summer I literally have thousands all over my property. I'm constantly pulling them as weeds, since a weed is a plant in the wrong place. Sorry, not trying to be crass or mean, but I have exactly the opposite problem and would love to find out how to kill them.

Cornelius

@Acequiamadre

How old was the tree? If it was young they need shade to protect them from the sun since they are an under-story tree. When they get older they might tolerate the sun better. They also need 400 chill hours according to https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/pawpaw/container-grown-pawpaw-trees.htm#:~:text=They%20are%20sensitive%20to%20low,grown%20pawpaw%20the%20perfect%20solution.

I hope this helps.

Cornelius

@ Shaley

You could put them in pots and sell the seedlings to people. I am new to these forms but I believe there is one where you can sell and trade with other members. They are also medicinal according to http://agnetwest.com/practical-uses-mimosa-tree/#:~:text=The%20bark%20of%20the%20Mimosa,skin%20disorders%20and%20skin%20irritations.

I hope this helps.

dottile46

@shaley1357 Not fond of mimosa myself. This was here when we bought the property. Previous owner said it was from her childhood home and the first thing she planted when they finished the house. Would have been in 2006-07. It created too much shade on the north end but it was the only shade for our daughter's window.

Since my original post on this this thread I've. Found other random plants dead, usually for no apparent reason. Just two days ago I noticed one blackberry plant dead, leaves totally intact, no signs of trauma, right next to a perfectly healthy one. A plum tree that hubby planted earlier this year died. Again, no apparent trauma, leaves intact, just dead. Crabgrass in the garden looks very healthy. Lol

shaley1357

Sorry about the other plants, but the Crabgrass comment is funny.