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Dying beach tree

steveHEJ5vCQgsteveHEJ5vCQg Posts: 2
in Plants
20 years ago I planted a beach seed and have been growing it since then, repotting it as needed. It has great sentimental value as my mums ashes plus most of our pets have been scattered around it. During a recent house move it was neglected for 2 weeks during very hot weather and all the leaves have turned brown. I now have it at our new property and have been taking care of it but I am worried it won’t come back next year. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 
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Posts

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Welcome. Is it possible to plant it in the ground now?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If it was ok before the 2 weeks neglect, there's a good chance it's alright.  :)
    That depends on how well it was looking though, and whether the care now is enough to revive it.
    Have you watered it well? If it's been very dehydrated, it can be difficult to rehydrate again, as the water tends to just run through without dampening the soil in the pot. It may have started to shut down early for autumn due to the stress. If you can post a photo or two, that might help with advice.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I'm with @Fire. 20 years in a container is a long time for a forest tree. It would have more chance in the ground.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - undeniably, but it has to be healthy first, with the root system in good condition or it's unlikely to thrive being planted in the ground either.
    At this time of year, it's even harder, unless the OP lives in a suitable climate where it gets adequate moisture to establish.   
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Give the pot a soak in a bucket over night, perhaps.  Some new soil for permanent planting might help, esp if it hasn't had any for some time. I too would think the root system should be ok, after 20 years, if it was only left for two weeks.

    Maybe repot in a good John Innes mix, have a look at the roots while you're there and consider where you might plant it out in the winter, if that's an option.

  • steveHEJ5vCQgsteveHEJ5vCQg Posts: 2
    Thanks for the advice . Here is a photo of the tree. I have made sure it is well fed a re potted it every few years so it has been in excellent condition up until now. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It should be a lot bigger than that after 20 years I'm afraid, but there seems to be some green growth still there. Beech wants to be huge unless it's used as a hedge.

    It really needs to be planted out to do it's best   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    There may be a nutritional imbalance too, if most of your pets' ashes are in that pot.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    Fairygirl said:
    It should be a lot bigger than that after 20 years I'm afraid, but there seems to be some green growth still there. Beech wants to be huge unless it's used as a hedge.
    I've got a 40 year old beech tree that's only a foot high, that I carefully bonsai for no good reason other than I wondered if it was possible when I was at school and have kept it going.

    So @steveHEJ5vCQg it is possible to keep the tree in the pot but you need to actively bonsai it, which basically means pruning the roots regularly. If you haven't done that in 20 years and it's now just pot bound, it will be difficult to do, so the easiest thing may be to plant it out, if you have somewhere it can go. But if you really want it in the pot, look for some youtubes on how to bonsai a tree, follow the instructions on how to do it properly and hope for the best.
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - but while that's certainly possible,  that doesn't seem to be the case from the OP's description, or photo. Very few people would be doing that  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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