How to Save a Dying Avocado Tree (9 Steps You Should Take)

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Avocados are delicious and healthy, but they can be a bit finicky to grow. If your avocado tree is looking a little worse for wear, you’ve come to the right place!

It’s possible to revive a dying avocado tree. It boils down to identifying the cause of the problem and addressing it appropriately. 

Not sure where to start? Stick around and I’ll show you what to do.

How to Know If Your Avocado Tree Is Dying

Two of the leading causes of avocado tree death are root rot and fungal diseases. The thing is, there are a number of varieties that affect avocado trees, and if this is not addressed quickly it can take over the tree and kill it. 

But how do you recognize when there’s a problem with your tree? Consider the following signs and symptoms:

• The leaves of the tree are turning brown and falling off.
• Many of the leaves in the upper part of the canopy are pale green, small, have brown tips, and fall off easily.
• Any new shoots turn brown and recede from the tip, leaving only the bare branches.

Note that brown leaves on your avocado tree don’t always mean it is diseased. There are times when too much sun and too much heat will certainly cause the leaves to yellow or turn brown.

In these cases, watering them more consistently and keeping them out of full sunlight is a good idea.

How to Revive a Dying Avocado Tree: Step-by-Step Guide

So, what can you do if your avocado tree is actually diseased? Here are some steps you can take to return it to a healthy state:

1. Identify the Issue

The first thing I recommend doing is taking note of all of the symptoms. Then, head to a local gardening center and talk to someone who understands what it might be.

Doing this will determine how you are going to handle reviving the tree and potentially eliminating the disease that is causing the problem.

2. Use Gypsum

Gypsum is rich in calcium and some varieties of root rot will not thrive under these conditions.

Use around 25 pounds of crushed gypsum (view on Amazon) and work it into the soil surface to a depth of around six to ten inches.

This calcium-rich environment will help to prevent new spores from forming in certain fungal diseases and will help to prevent the life cycle from continuing.

3. Use Mulch

If you liberally spread several inches of wood mulch around the base of the tree so that all of the root areas are covered, you can help to promote better growth.

The wood mulch will actually promote the growth and development of bacteria that can inhibit and eliminate some fungal diseases.

4. Don’t Water as Much

One issue with some trees is that they are overwatered. Overwatering any plant can create conditions for fungal growth.

Try holding back on the watering frequency so that you don’t encourage fungal growth. The spores don’t like dryer conditions.

5 – Test the Water

Sometimes, certain elements, such as boron, can encourage the growth of unhealthy bacteria and fungi.

If you’ve tried everything else and the tree isn’t getting better, you can take a sample of your yard water to be tested.

6. Check the Drainage

Poor drainage in the soil will hasten the appearance of root rot and other problems because the water stays in the soil and soaks the roots.

One way to prevent this situation is to dig drainage channels around the tree roots.

Some people use channels of PVC piping, but it may just be easier to dig small tunnels with a spade around the roots and leave them filled with loose soil. This will provide a reasonable channel for excess water to drain through.

If your avocado tree is located on sloping land, the drainage channels become more effective.

7. Replace with New Soil

In conjunction with other methods, you can also try replacing the top layer of soil with new soil. This will help to eliminate any pathogens around the roots that could be causing problems.

8. Use Good Fertilizer

Avocado trees need the right mix of nutrients in the soil they are growing in.

Sometimes, the nutrition balance is not right, such as too little nitrogen. This can encourage the growth of pathogens, but can also affect the ability of the tree to fight off things like root rot.

To fix this, invest in some good-quality fertilizer.

Make sure that you use it liberally four times a year and start in the winter season. This will ensure that the tree has access to good-quality soil and nutrients and will enable it to fight off diseases more effectively.

9. Use Fungicides

Finally, if all else fails or you want to use multiple treatments at once, you can invest in a good quality fungicide. This will help to eliminate the pathogens causing the disease.

Tips for Taking Care of Your Avocado Tree

Ultimately, the overall health of your avocado tree largely depends on the conditions in which it’s growing. By caring for it correctly throughout the year, you can reduce the chances of disease forming and other problems.

Here are a few tips for taking for your avocado tree:

• Water Deeply But Not Frequently: With avocado trees, you want to water deeply and less frequently rather than shallowly and more often. Aim for 1-2 inches of water per week. Also, be sure not to water it in the heat of the day as it will simply evaporate and cause dry soil.
• Prune the Tree Regularly: Pruning not only helps maintain the shape of the tree, but it also helps promote new growth. Aim to prune in the late winter or early spring before the tree starts to leaf out. 
• Mulch Around the Tree: Mulching around your avocado tree will help retain moisture in the soil, regulate soil temperature, and suppress the growth of weeds. Organic mulch, like wood chips and shredded leaves, of around 2-3 inches thick is optimal. 
• Frost Protection: If you live in a cold climate that gets frost, you need to cover your tree with a frost blanket, as avocado trees are sensitive to frost, especially younger ones.
• Well-Draining Soil: Avocado trees prefer well-drained, loamy soil with a pH level that’s between 6 and 7.5. If your soil is heavy or clay-like, you can amend it with some sand or other organic matter to improve its drainage. 

Final Thoughts

Avocados are a fantastic and nutritious fruit and many people love to grow them in their yards. They do need proper care and maintenance to thrive.

One issue that many avocado trees have is root rot and fungal infections. By taking the proper steps, you can revive a dying tree and restore its health in the long term. 

You’ll then have a healthy tree and healthy fruits for a long time to come!

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