Persimmon Tree not growing

I planted a Fuyu Persimmon Tree 4 years ago and the tree has not grown 1 inch. It puts out leaves every year though. I have over 20 other trees that are growing fine, and even native persimmons that grow well. I thought it wasn't receiving enough sun, so I trimmed the trees around it. It receives plenty of sun now, but still no growth. I fertilize regularly and don't overdo it. I water during dry periods with rain water, but we've been getting pretty regular rain so I don't water often. I live in zone 8B. Do these trees take a while to get started? Do you have any suggestions?

Billy Blankenship wrote:I planted a Fuyu Persimmon Tree 4 years ago and the tree has not grown 1 inch. It puts out leaves every year though. I have over 20 other trees that are growing fine, and even native persimmons that grow well. I thought it wasn't receiving enough sun, so I trimmed the trees around it. It receives plenty of sun now, but still no growth. I fertilize regularly and don't overdo it. I water during dry periods with rain water, but we've been getting pretty regular rain so I don't water often. I live in zone 8B. Do these trees take a while to get started? Do you have any suggestions?

My guess is that it was a) very root bound when you planted it, or b) planted into amended clay soil.  If that is the case, it's likely that the roots hit the edge of the amended area and stopped right there, so it is still root bound.  I would rip it out and start again.

Do you think there is a large rock a little under the tree that has stopped the root from growing?  Can you move the tree to another spot?

Trace Oswald wrote:

Billy Blankenship wrote:I planted a Fuyu Persimmon Tree 4 years ago and the tree has not grown 1 inch. It puts out leaves every year though. I have over 20 other trees that are growing fine, and even native persimmons that grow well. I thought it wasn't receiving enough sun, so I trimmed the trees around it. It receives plenty of sun now, but still no growth. I fertilize regularly and don't overdo it. I water during dry periods with rain water, but we've been getting pretty regular rain so I don't water often. I live in zone 8B. Do these trees take a while to get started? Do you have any suggestions?

My guess is that it was a) very root bound when you planted it, or b) planted into amended clay soil.  If that is the case, it's likely that the roots hit the edge of the amended area and stopped right there, so it is still root bound.  I would rip it out and start again.

Thanks. I don't know why I did not think of it being root bound. I dug the hole when I first moved to the property, and I probably did not dig it large enough to remove the large rocks. I will dig it up this winter and redo the hole or move it.

Dennis Bangham wrote:Do you think there is a large rock a little under the tree that has stopped the root from growing?  Can you move the tree to another spot?

Thank you. I can't believe I did not think of the tree being root bound. I do have a lot of limestone on my property. I dug the hole when I first moved to this location, and I wasn't as experienced at digging here as I am now. I will dig up the tree this winter and redo it.

Persimmons must have rotting wood nearby in order to grow. I put a rotting log on the drip line and one tree is huge, another I planted at the same time is stunted and has only begun growing now after like... five years. I burnt it with fresh chicken poop when I planted it, and we have heavy clay soil that is rich in lime. They would rather have good drainage! But they will not grow without the rotting wood as far as I know... like their growth hormones are suppressed without it or something. So they don't compete with the parent tree, they just establish themselves and then bolt when the mature tree nearby falls and starts to rot. I think my stunted tree may be inhibited by its proximity to the larger one? I think it may give them an evolutionary advantage since persimmons are sexed, if the male saplings competed with the mother tree it would compete with the mother tree. So an established female persimmon tree is kind of a precious thing among the persimmon trees. They need a male tree nearby to produce fruit, but like, one male tree would be enough for several female trees.
Short of it I would just put a rotting log on the dripline of the tree and see if it perks up.