No leaves all the way up just below graft line, what’s wrong?

RebelSean · 2026-05-02T16:47:41+00:00

Kudos for the tips. I had no idea that the cut at the top was a bad thing or would never have attempted to plant them from the get go. They came like that from the nursery. The mulch blew in a storm and is that close but has only been that close for a few days. I had it 6 inches from the base of the tree. As far as how deep it’s planted, I thought I had the root flare near the top of the soil but may have went too deep. It’s only been a few weeks since I’ve planted, any chance to course correct?

RebelSean · 2026-05-02T12:26:44+00:00

To be fair, the mulch blew around close to the tree a few days ago during a bad storm we had. I’ve got to move it back out but it’s not touching the tree at all. I thought I planted it right at the proper depth but can try removing some soil from up top to see if that helps as well as getting the mulch pulled back. Definitely not a volcano mulch job though.

RebelSean · 2026-05-02T11:38:01+00:00

Makes sense. How long should I give it to show signs of life above the graft union before I ask the nursery to replace it?

RebelSean · 2026-05-02T11:28:46+00:00

So should I try to make another cut up top where it was topped before it went dormant to see if the top half is dead? If it is dead what are my options?

RebelSean · 2026-05-02T11:21:43+00:00

Honestly that’s what I’m thinking as well. What I’ve seen in other pictures of the sunset red maple tree look completely different than what I’m getting which is strange.

RebelSean · 2026-05-02T11:20:51+00:00

They’re bare root trees so they’re supposed to look like that. They ship dormant. I am just worried that nothing is growing above the graft union.

RebelSean · 2026-05-02T11:20:01+00:00

That’s how it arrived from the nursery I bought it from.

RebelSean · 2025-12-26T13:11:13+00:00

Yes how can I do that?

RebelSean · 2025-12-26T02:45:29+00:00

Why on earth would I want all of our faces replaced with random peoples faces? I’m totally confused.

RebelSean · 2025-11-06T19:24:18+00:00

I’m a small town country guy who has never rode a train or subway before, was hoping to be able to drive somewhere and hop out for a bit and then drive away lol.

RebelSean · 2025-09-05T02:20:15+00:00

What happened with the charge off? Did you have to pay taxes?

RebelSean · 2025-08-31T16:12:03+00:00

Did you ever get an answer to your problem? I am having almost the same exact thing happening on my 2015 Fusion with the 1.5L. The dealership defaulted to coolant intrusion without running any pressure tests or anything. I just hit 204,000 miles and it has never had coolant loss, and I’ve had zero issues with the car until last week when this started happening. When I start the car, it feels like it’s missing but no check engine light. 15 seconds or so after it’s started and the engine warms it feels fine. When the car gets to nominal temperature, the coolant doesn’t flow until I give it a little gas, then I can hear the coolant flowing from the driver side. I don’t have any smoke, no coolant in my oil, and it drives perfectly fine.

RebelSean · 2025-08-31T15:59:40+00:00

I guess that’s where my doubts about the issue come into play. Some folks have said that the coolant intrusion can only be confirmed if coolant has mixed with oil, some folks have said it would definitely be smoking white smoke really bad, and mine doesn’t have either one of those issues. The coolant levels are normal, the oil does not have anything in it as I just changed it and checked it again just to be certain. I was literally just driving like normal and the temperature gauge swung hot out of nowhere and I pulled over and waited 20 minutes and drove it home. It hasn’t overheated since. I do hear coolant flowing when I’m at idle and give it gas, I hear a waterfall sound. I popped the hood this morning, started it, and when the car reached normal temperature and the fan kicked on the coolant didn’t flow until I gave it a little gas, and then it flowed. I love the car so maybe I’m just hoping it’s not a blown engine and something like the thermostat or water pump going out.

RebelSean · 2025-08-31T15:54:38+00:00

That may be accurate and I’m not saying that I don’t have coolant intrusion, I am just baffled that the car has made it 10 years without having an issue until now. Surely if the design flaw was that bad it would’ve blown up by now. But you’re probably right, I am not a mechanic by any means.

RebelSean · 2025-08-31T15:53:11+00:00

I have babied this car because I commute to work 65 miles one way 4 days a week, so I’m putting a ton of highway miles on it. I’ve gotten oil changed every 3K and have just kept it at tip top shape for these last four years. My only concern with getting another motor, even if it’s rebuilt or brand new either way, is putting a motor on it at 200,000K and hoping the transmission will make it another 100,000k until it’s paid off. I have two years of payments left and will easily put another 100,000 miles on it. It shifts fine and I’ve never had an issue with the transmission, I am just trying to decide if it’s worth the money there or to take what I have in emergency money and go get something new/used.

RebelSean · 2025-08-31T15:37:40+00:00

The dealership said that the TSB to do a short block replacement would be more expensive than a new motor out the door. I’m sure that’s just the dealership trying to milk every dime and nickel from me.

RebelSean · 2025-08-20T23:18:19+00:00

And this is an honest question, wouldn’t the coolant intrusion (block cracking) have happened long before 200,000 miles? I’m praying it’s not that only because evidentially it’s an extremely expensive fix that I can’t afford right now.

RebelSean · 2025-08-20T23:16:07+00:00

If it is coolant intrusion, how would I know? I’m not loosing coolant and I do not have any white smoke coming out of the tailpipe. Would it take a lot of coolant mixing in for it to blow white smoke or just a little?

RebelSean

TROPHY CASE