Monkey Puzzle Tree

Can anyone one advise on whats the best to do with my tree.I purchased it around two years ago and it has come on great and nearly 30'' high in a large pot.This year the lower branches have turned brown on myself.I do appricate that it was a hard winter with lots of frost.Is there anything I can do to help or what do I do.My intentions was to plant this easter as it is well established,another question is how deep to I dig,and what like a radius would dig to give the tree a resonable surround.Do I just use the earth in garden or is best to use a special compost.Sorry for asking such silly questions but just totally unsure what to do.I would be grateful of any information.By the way I live in the most northernly part of Scotland,where it is rather windy and cold.

 

"Sorry for asking such silly questions"

The only silly questions are the ones you DON'T ask!!

I would make a decent sized hole - 3 feet or so in diameter - more so that the soil has been turned over, mixed up and loosened, rather than because you need to do anything special.

If you have some well rotted muck, or your own compost, that you can put in the bottom that will help - it all helps hold moisture for when the roots get down there.

I put a small cupful of bonemeal in the bottom of planting holes for trees - but buying a whole bag will be a bit OTT unless you happen to have some lying around!

For important trees I also put some perforated irrigation hose in the planting hole - curled round, and close to, the root ball. Then I can fill it when I water the plant, and it goes straight to where it is needed. (There is a picture on my blog in case that helps make it a bit clearer)

I would mix the soil you dug out with some compost, or similar, before putting it back - to give it some more "body" and humus which will help the tree grow more quickly.

After planting mulch with more compost (to stop it drying out to quickly) and water "plenty and not very frequently" - you want the tree roots to grow down and not be dependant on you watering it - if you give it a little every day the roots will all grow near the surface! so give it a good soak in dry weather and then leave it for a week before watering again - perhaps a bit more frequently in a proper drought.

I don't know if a Monkey Puzzle needs a stake - I figure you'llbe hard pressed to get near it to tie it to a stake!

 

The best thing to do with a Monkey puzzle tree is to give it away .
As you may guess, I am not their biggest fan .. they are quite a lethal tree and quite dangerous, especially to small children and animals
If you MUST keep it (:(), then the above information sounds really capable to me

 

"The best thing to do with a Monkey puzzle tree is to give it away"

I'll have it! I'd love to have one .... lots of space here where people / pets don't need to go though ...

 

A magnificent specimen tree but do give it plenty of room,they are fast growing.

 

The best (!) thing I ever saw with a monkey puzzle tree was when I was working in Leicester. There was a row of very small (2 up, 2 down) terraced houses near one of the main routes into the city and someone had planted a monkey puzzle tree in the front garden of one of these tiny houses. It was virtually touching the house and the front garden wall and for a MP was still very small....perhaps 10ft.

I would love to know if it's still there and whether it took the house up with it! :lol:

 

Very popular tree on the Isle of Wight, there's at least 4 mature specimens within walking distance really lovely trees =]

 

Very mature specimens can shed branches from a great height, not healthy if you are under one.:(
Best in a large garden.

 

Hello,
Thanks for your input.I planted midweek and took your advise.I dug a hole 30''deep,mixed soil with compost and fead with bone meal.I gave the tree a 1metre radius and it looks okay,just a bit concerned about the lower branches being brown I will keep you informed.

 

My monkey puzzle seems to be struggling big time.The branches are going brown by the day,although top part is still greenish,do I write off or can any members help.I have protected the tree with windscreening roughly about 500mm high ,but maybe should of done this earlier on.I would be grateful of any help.

 

Hello,
Yes I have been watering it when required without overwatering along with a liquid feed every two / three weeks in trying to help.I may try to take a photo and post on so that members might assure myself whats the best option.

 

I would write it off and get another.

IMO they are beutifull trees, my favourite second only to ginkgo Biloba.