Question
I transplanted my 4ft. crape myrtle tree 3 days ago and it's not looking well. The bark of the tree looks fine but the leaves have prematurely turned red and orange and they are drooping? What should I do? Did I kill it?

Answer
This is not the best time to transplant trees and the hot dry weather causes them to under go a great deal of stress. More than likely you did not dig enough root system to support the foliage of the tree. About the only thing that can be done is mulch around the tree with not more than 3 inches of organic mulch to help hold water and water every third day with 1 inch of water --place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 11 inch of water in it stop. Crept myrtle and pretty tough and it will more than likely make it but you might see some die back.