Question
Hello Mr. Hyland, I have a question. We just planted a baby Fruitless Mulberry tree yesterday in our yard. I did the necessary steps to transplant the tree. Dug the hole twice as wide and deep as the pot, mixed the compost with the native soil in the location of the hole, and added mulch to the surrounding area after we planted the tree. Today in the morning, we watered it, it was fine. Later that evening, the leaves started to fold inwards, almost curling to the center. The leaves are completly green, no sign of yellowing. What could be the problem? possible stress from the roots? too much water?I don't want the tree to die! I love trees! Also, I live in southern Californa in the high desert. The temperature is approximately 90-95 Degrees F through the peak hours. The tree recieves full sunlight. Mr.Hyland, again thank you for your time.
Jimmie.

Answer
Sounds like you planted it correctly BUT forgot about the time of the season. Hot dry summer weather is the worst time to plant a tree. Deciduous trees may be planted either in the spring or the fall. Deciduous plants may be planted in the spring as soon as the frost is out of the ground, up until the time when new foliage is partly unfurled. In the fall, they may be planted once the leaves start to turn color up until the ground freezes.

Tree will go through a shock when newly planted and hot dry weather is much more a stress on the trees. I would water the tree every third day 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.
This is called deep watering and will keep the roots moist.

Make sure the mulch is not piled up on the trunk and check and see that the tree is not planted too deep. You should be able to see a slight swelling where the trunk turns into the roots system --this should be at or slightly above the ground level.

I think the main problem is the heat and lack of water.