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sorbus olympic flame

Normanew555Normanew555 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
I bought this small tree a couple of years ago.  It grew beautifully the first year, last year it got flowers and started to get leaves, then the weather turned cold and the leaves never opened properly and it looked very sad all year.  This year, even worse.  It grew flowers, the leaves were just beginning to shoot but once again cold winds, the leaves curled up and now even though the weather has warmed up a little there is no sign of any leaves starting to grow again.  It is not dead as its branches are green and sappy.  What can I do for the poor thing?

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Did it have plenty of water to establish it, and does it have enough water?
    Sorbus of any kind need lots to keep them happy.
    If it's in an exposed site, that makes it harder too. Wind dries out plants very quickly.
    Have you got a photo?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Normanew555Normanew555 Posts: 4
    I do not have a photo at the minute.  The tree has had plenty of water and the site is not really exposed - in a small garden next to a fence.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It can be dry very close to fences. Is there a lot of other planting giving it competition for moisture?
    Sorbus don't tend to get many problems, even the cultivated varieties, so it's hard to think of anything else without seeing it.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Normanew555Normanew555 Posts: 4
    Thanks Fairygirl,
    There is not much else near it.  And it is a damp corner of the garden, that's why I chose a Sorbus for the area. I am trying to upload some photos but keep having trouble logging onto the site for some reason.
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    It looks a bit close to the fence.  Could you bring it out a bit?  If it were me I'd dig a nice big hole, but some water into it and allow it to drain, replant the tree with as much of the earth around the rootball as possible, sprinkle in some blood fish & bone and then back fill and firm down.
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's a really dreadful looking specimen. Where did you buy it? 
    Is it planted directly into the grass? That's not a good idea either. You need a good clear space around it. That helps keep a new tree clear of weeds. 
    Damp ground is ok up to a point. If the soil isn't draining well though, it won't thrive well at all. They like plenty of moisture, but they won't like sitting in boggy ground long term. There has to be drainage.
    What prep did you give the planting hole? 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Normanew555Normanew555 Posts: 4
    It was perfecttly fine when I bought it. 
    The garden unforunately is a bit of a bog.  Very wet clay.  We've recently had drainage installed so that might help. 
    I think i have failed this tree and will need to do what didyw suggests and replant the whole thing. 
    Thanks.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It needs to go somewhere it has decent enough drainage.  :)
    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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