Chinese pistache likely has a new paramour

Q: We are concerned about our Chinese pistache tree this season. The overall foliage seems limited compared to previous seasons. We’ve observed most of the new growth is the clusters of berries. Normally, the berries are more in the fall growth time of year. Any ideas or recommendations would be appreciated. — J.B., Albuquerque

A: I’ve read a bit about Chinese pistache — Pistacia chinensis — and it would seem your tree is having an affair. I didn’t know this, but there are male and female of this tree and yours, since you are getting the berries, is a female. That tells me that perhaps there is a new male pistache tree planted nearby that has prompted your tree to set the fruit earlier than you are used to seeing it.

I haven’t read anything to suggest that the tree bearing berries so soon is a bad thing. I read that the pistache performs best when offered deep, infrequent waterings during the growing season. From the photo you sent along, it looks like the tree is planted in an area covered with gravel mulch. That makes me most curious as to how and how often the tree is watered. Is a drip system employed that is set beneath the gravel mulch? If so, when was the last time you physically checked on the emitters to be sure they are working?

Next, I wonder if there is plastic under the mulch that is under the tree? If so, I’ll strongly suggest that you rake the gravel back and cut away the plastic sheeting so there is a two-foot plasticless gap past the drip line of your pistache tree. You can lay weed fabric down to replace the plastic and then cover that with the gravel again. Just know if there is plastic beneath the tree anywhere from the drip line to the trunk, it’s going to suffer.

I also wonder if the tree was watered at all during the late fall-winter months? This past winter wasn’t nearly as wet as the previous one, so the tree could be, for lack of a better thought, stunted with this year’s dry spring and now the heat. There was a wicked hail storm at my home that beat up my catalpa tree recently, and I wonder if yours suffered the same fate. I have a dear friend who had a young Russian olive tree that actually suffered bruising along its branches after a horrid hail storm, and it took several growing seasons for the tree to regroup. That might be a partial cause to the pistache’s different look this year.

I am confident that you’ve been out and given the tree a good visual inspection, checking for any sort of insect invasion. Pistache trees are known for being pretty bug-less, but check nonetheless and be sure to inspect the underneath sides of the leaves too. In my opinion, it’s too hot to spray now if you do find any critters, but knowing what type of bugs you might have now can guide you as to the insecticide you’d want to apply when this heat comes off a bit.

Having watched your tree for a while, you can tell some things off, so it’s up to you to do a bit of investigative work to help it along. Check the watering and if there is plastic involved in its world, get it out of there. As to the berries showing up early, well know that there is a new male in her life, she’s happy, and that’s OK.

Happy Diggin’ In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, 7777 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.