Biggest feral German Medlar (Mespilus germanica) Population in Germany is dying

[@JCox-zp1bk]

Thank you for the work you are doing. Besides drought, I find the biggest problem I have here at my location in the USA is trying to use non-native trees and shrubs. I think what I need to do is plant native ones that aren't already growing here. Knowing in advance which years we will have droughts is fantasy, but I wish for it anyway.

[@allthefruit]

Most native ones adapted to your location should already be growing around there. Native is quite relative when it comes to big places like the US and even to single states. Better look for local ones

[@chuckmarecic9313]

Could it be that they are shallow rooted? Several years ago I planted 6 grafted medlars on a slope that gets quite wet some years. Typically they are my most reliable fruit producers, but they also seem prone to falling over or partially uprooting. Otherwise they’re still growing well. Do you think surrounding them with a thick layer of mulch would help? Could they have exhausted the soil? When was the last time the goat landscape brigades were involved? I hear they’re excellent pruners, weeders and fertilizers! Also, here in Maine diseases like fireblight are endemic. Could there be a pathogen hitting those trees while they’re stressed by the drought?

[@allthefruit]

The goats were there 100y ago. The soil should be rich enough. Mulching might have helped but now we hope the drought is over. I do not have much experience with medlar roots but yes, they tend to fall over

[@luxxer12]

Very cool to see wild growing medlars in germany dont know why they dont do so well in germany but i know some (planted) trees here that also live but dont have much vigour. The only nice trees i know grow in classic "Streuobstwiesen".

[@XoroksComment]

They need acidic soil, at least when they are grown on their own roots or Medlar seedling rootstock

[@gurkengamingpvz21]

Does it get artificially watered during droughts? I have no clue why the tree would die now, every tree i visited throughout the oast 4 years had its peak season this year

[@FruitingPlanet]

Did you try to find a correlation between winter low temperatures or winter median temperatures in that area and the germination success? Another thing that comes to mind is if the seedlings are being grazed in a diffrent way than before, in a way that they can't develop properly anymore? Or maybe there was an animal that used to be more common which aided the medler populations spread by consuming them or burrying them.

[@allthefruit]

Good ideas but i havent researched that

[@AwesomeFish12]

It's a shame that it's been so dry in the region. Seems that it's harder and harder to predict times of drought and rain.

[@allthefruit]

Other regions have been hit much harder

[@cerverg]

There are Iranian varieties that ripen on the tree. I think they still have them in some nurseries in the UK

[@allthefruit]

I should get some

[@Avorp-gb6zh]

"Running around with a parang"

[@allthefruit]

Told you 😎 but you didnt believe 😋

[@Avorp-gb6zh]

@allthefruit and your jungles 😂😂

[@allthefruit]

Arnt they nice? 😎

[@Avorp-gb6zh]

@@allthefruit Sì ✨✨✨

[@allthefruit]

Grazie