Dog urine under artificial turf killing Camphor

BBBTree

BBBTree

Location
CA
I received a call about a sickly Camphor Tree. For one, I believe the soil is a very high concentration of clay with no silt for a hundred miles. The area has always been arid long before houses were built there to this day. The yard around the tree is artificial turf.

I'd assume that the leaves are yellowing, spotting, and falling off possibly due the years of dog urine accumulated under the turf in the micropores of the clay. I bet the clay is hard, concentrated with salt, ammonia, and nitrogen, and their is minimal aeration of the soil occurring.

Toxic soil? Anyone agree?
 
Why not test? Soil tests are cheap and can give you answers, not guesses.

I would also be looking for at evidence of excess dog urine (is there a cryptogram free zone at the base of the trunk?) and evidence of fungus.
 
They just told me about a white fungus on the leaves. I'll ask if it's anywhere else on the tree. She described the stuff as being on the backs of the leaves and like a moth to the touch.

They've had the turf on their lawn for 6 years with 3 big German Sheppards for six years urinating on the turf. It's not a big area, so there's not many other places to go than right on the tree roots.
 
You cannot go on their word, charge them to do a site visit, collet some soils and run some tests.

Tomentose leaf surfaces could be any number of organisms, check under a dissecting microscope.
 
On a different note...What about the cumalative effects of deer urine in a winter staging area. Close to 80 deer in this area for the last 15 years. Recently, two beuatiful open grown maples...died. Soil analysis to be done for sure.
 
I think you need soil tests done when urine is present rather than four months later. I doubt that you will find that deer urine lasts in the soil. It is likely very soluble and thus has leached.
 
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