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Lilac Leaves All Dead

gwToWmMringwToWmMrin Posts: 2
in Problem solving
I have a lilac tree that has been growing well for approximately 7years and had no problems with it. For the last few years I have been removing the dead flowers and light pruning once its finished flowering. This year after flowering it started with a few brown leaves. I removed the dead flowers as normal but it continued to turn the leaves brown. I went away for 3 weeks and on return all the leaves are dead but on the tree. It in a nice open space and there is no compaction of the soil. The soil has a mulch every 2 rears with a layer of home grown compost but not this year. It also gets a fertiliser feed every 2 years. I scratched away a small area of bark and it looks nice and green. There are no other outward signs.

Attached are photos of the disaster.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Posts

  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    That's really distressing. I would wait and see if it comes back. I have had sections go like that buy never the whole tree. Is there any damage on the trunk?
  • gwToWmMringwToWmMrin Posts: 2
    Posy said:
    That's really distressing. I would wait and see if it comes back. I have had sections go like that buy never the whole tree. Is there any damage on the trunk?
    Thanks for the comment.
    The trunk is fine.
    A bit gnarled with age lower down but intact.

     I have wondered if it was caused by the weather as we had a heatwave in the spring followed by a really cold snap for a few days. It played havoc with the hydrangea and turned the edges of the leaves on the top 6in of the bush brown and crispy but they recovered ok.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I would certainly keep hoping.
  • IgrowfromseedIgrowfromseed Posts: 284
    Our neighbours did the same a few years ago but unfortunately never returned.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Mine also died one year after I done some overzealous pruning just after it flowered.
    I cut it down to the ground but didn't get around to removing the stump and about a year later I noticed a shoot - about 3 years on from that it's 6ft again


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Fingers crossed it returns. It would be a shame to lose that. It's clearly been  a lovely specimen.
    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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