Question
We purchased a couple of Variegated Willow Myrtle's approx 3 weeks ago and planted 2 weeks ago. One of them has died after the first week and when queried this with the nursery they came around dug around the tree in question and felt the tree and confirmed root rot, and stated it was buried too deep (1.5" too deep).  The other tree seems to be fine. However, we can't see a reason why the tree would have died. To confirm that it was root rot wouldn't the tree or the roots themselves need to have been sighted to see if they had growths on them, or show some signs of something else wrong. Please help us to determine what might have killed this tree.

Answer
I do not think it was root rot. This is a disease that like most diseases will take a long time to kill the tree--not two weeks. The roots would be stringy and decayed. I would say the tree was defective (maybe even dead) when bought and would ask for a replacement. Even if the tree was a little deep it would not have died in 2 weeks.

When you get the new tree dig the hole twice the size of the root ball and as deep and plant so that the top of the soil in the pot is at ground level. Fill the hole with good top soil or potting soil and mulch around the tree with not more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch not pile up on the trunk. Water with 1 inch of water---place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 inch of water in it stop. Do this every third day for a month then once a week if it does not rain. Too much water can cause the tree to die as will too little water. After a couple of months the roots should be fine and you can water only if it does not rain for a couple of weeks. Once trees get established they do not need watering except during droughts.