Because of the timing and circumstances surrounding this planting, I'd be very hesitant to immediately assume it was some sort of disease issue. We are more likely looking at transplant shock and an early dormancy, which can often be triggered by planting late in the season. Excessive rainfall during this period could certainly account for what you describe as well. Retaining dried, dead foliage is pretty common for this selection also.

As long as the container is filled with a high quality, fast draining potting soil and offers adequate drainage, I'd wait until spring to see how these trees bud out before I'd do any thing else. They will probably be just fine.

Were the plants under cover when you bought them? Often, black leaves are indicative of freeze damage or chill injury. Chill injury can occur at temperatures much higher than you would suspect if the drop in temperature is rapid or if the plants had been growing in a hoophouse or under some other cover where they would have been acclimated to the extra warm temps.

Be very careful about watering now, as they will need very little.

Al

Thank you both for your responses. I will indeed wait to see how they leaf out in spring before acting.

As for whether they were covered or not or growing in a hoop house, I'm not sure. My nursery ordered them from a grower in NJ.

I do know that there was a freak drop in temperature in mid-October, where it went down to the low 40s for 3 days or so after a fairly balmy September and early October. So maybe chill injury is it.

Again, thank you for your advice!