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Conifer needing help

anc0797anc0797 Posts: 17
in Problem solving
I got a 10ft confier about 2 months ago, it was dug out and replanted in the same day, into the ground.  It's now staring to turn brown at an ever increasing rate.  The soil it's in pretty much clay based although we planted it with sandy compost and have stakes to keep it upright in the wind.  It's been very rainy and windy since it was planted so I don't know if it's a drainage issue and if the hole it was placed in is collecting water.  Or a more sinister reason could be the old man next door who is known to weed kill trees.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)

Posts

  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Which species / variety / cultivar of conifer is it ; there are many hundreds !
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    edited July 2020
    That's a big tree to transplant and survive. Normally you would reduce the top growth by up to half so the roots can support what's there until they settle in and grow but with a conifer that's probably not possible and once they go brown they don't regrow.

  • anc0797anc0797 Posts: 17

    I'm sorry I have no idea, we new someone who was going to cut it down so we asked if we could have it and the man kindly dug it out and allowed us to take it.  The ground is sloping down towards the tree so I'm thinking it could be water logged.  I don't know if the picture will help narrow down what species it is? It was taken the day after it was put in but it's a lot browner now.  I'm a complete newbie to gardening. Thanks 
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    Only trouble is you don't know how careful he was digging it up and how much root system came with the tree and how much didn't.
    I'm afraid it's unlikely to survive. If you think it's water logged I assume you have held off watering so it could be lack of water newly planted trees need a lot of water rain or no rain. 
  • anc0797anc0797 Posts: 17
    K67 thank you, I'll start watering it more again as you're right we have cut down how much we've been watering it. Thanks 

  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    Another worry regarding the amount of root is that it's planted very close to your drive. You would normally dig our an area 3 times as wide as the rootball and as deep. Loosen the soil a bit at the sides and bottom   add your sandy grit and plant. Then water in well at least 2 cans full every other day for a week or 2 then every 7 to 10 days, continuing during winter as it's evergreen unless you get prolonged deluges, oh wait you're in Scotland so if course you will!
  • anc0797anc0797 Posts: 17
    Thank you very much 🙂 
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Looks like one of the Lawson Cypress cultivars ; agree with all the above ; if it's all going a nasty shade of brown it has probably succumbed .
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