Hedge Loosing Life

Can anyone on what is to do with my tree,as its going bald.Hopefully you can see from attachments.This is my photo post so please excuse if not working.But would be grateful if anyone can advise.

 

Could well be waterlogged check drainage is that possible? If not..


Its a holly im pretty sure perhaps Golden King. There isnt particularly anything wrong with it, they just go like that in pots. Im guessing by the thickish trunk you bought it fairly mature or its been in the pot a while. If its the latter do one of two things, easiest is to add a top dressing of compost and water and feed VERY regularly, best choice is pull it out of the pot, and prune the roots a bit if neccassary saw the bottom tenth (ish) off the bottom of the root mass with a wood saw (really) then put some fresh compost in the bottom of pot and replace the plant. If the root of the holly is not solid you can shake away some soil and replant in fresh compost.

When it starts growing prune back all the shoots a little (2 inches or so) to get an even shape, feed and water well after this prune, and with any luck a nice dense shape will be the result. You may not get new leaves on the bare stems but you can still have a nice plant, with some tlc and careful pruning.

If its a recently purchased mature plant and you have repotted it, it could be thats its still sort of pot bound.....often big plants when rootbound will take ages to root out into new pot (or the ground). Folllow the above pruing guide keep watered and it will root out eventually.

 

Plantman,
Thank you ever so much for the information.The tree is fairly old and was removed from my late mothers garden last year.You are correct it is in a fairly large pot ,that I buried in ground last summer.I surrounded the base with bark just before winter.Would it be best to dig up and remove the pot and replant into soil.What do you think about the lower area of tree,do I prune or just leave to see how it recovers in spring.I have not fed the tree at all.Can you advise what would be the best to feed the tree with? Thanks again for the information.Cheers.

 

Hi tattie yeah I would plant in the ground for sure. I think I would probably wait to prune the lower branches but they will need to come off in the end I think, if its an old tree it may take a bit to get going but looking at it I think youll get a nice standard shade in the end. If you like to be organic i would feed with pelleted chichen manure (appply this fairly regularly its weak and washes through soil quickly) or fish blood and bone. If non organic Vitax Q4 is good.

Oh and remember even if your planting in the ground pretend ita in a pot when it comes to watering. the chances are it wont do much in the way of roooting out this year so in effect is still in pot, when your watering your containers it probably want water too, this is a good rule when it comes to any specimens in the first year in the ground.

 

Will I be best to leave to later on before removing from pot to ground.When do you recommend to transfer ? Forgot to tell that we do live in the most northernly part of Britain,18 miles from John O groats.So its pretty cold with a strong northernly wind almost all of the time,don,t know if this has some bearing on my troubles.But I bet it does not help matters.Cheers.

 

certanly wont help...holly is tough enough to cope just might look a bit windswept from time to time. If your planting it in the same pot its in now then do it whenever the ground is nt frozen. If your moving it to a more exposed spot then you may as well hold til the worst of the weather has passed.

 

Hello Troops,
Can I ask for further help on my problem.I removed the bush from the pot in early May .I refilled the hole with fresh compost and a bone meal scattering.To be honest I thought I might of cracked it as the roots were strangled in the bottom of the pot.Do I give it the benefit of the doubt,wait until after summer.I would be grateful again on any help.Can anyone suggest what would do as a replacement for my area.I need something full hardy that won,t grow massive and i can form a bit of shape to for a focal point,along with a supplier if need be.Cheers.

 

Hello,
Thanks for the valued information from Plantman the shrub has made a full recovery. The question now is do i protect it by wrapping a fleece around it for winter or not? Is it too late to prune?I would be grateful of any advise.Cheers.