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Is this tree on the way out?
NikB
Posts: 14
i hope the picture is good enough! Im not even sure what kind of tree this is, we just refer to it as The Christmas Tree 
It was bought xmas before last and stayed in a pot as we knew we were moving, we then planted it last year once we had moved house, but now it looks as if its dying? Although the top looks healthy it seems to just look...ill. Is there anything I can do, or is it fatal? Thanks in advance.
0
Posts
Sorry NikB. I think it's on the way out. The good news is that you have a new planting opportunity
It is now an Ex Christmas Tree - best start perusing the plant catalogues, or have a look here http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/plants/seed-and-plant-swap-2015/592200.html and see what's available for free
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Its seems to be dying out. You can keep it healthy by providing proper care in the form of watering, spraying, mulching and pruning a bit. Get the help of arborist or tree company if you have some budget.
It looks as if it has been bought as a potted Christmas Tree. I tried to plant these out a few times and failed every time. Apparently, they chop off too much root system, to make them fit into the planter. This industry is a crying shame.
I would cut off all the brown branches (a crown lift) and give the tree lots of water and see what happens. It may be that there is not enough root for the amount of branches and they have died back. You can then underplant to make it look better. I am an optimist and willing to give things a go.
My guess is that it was pot bound in its container and would have needed a lot of TLC to establish in the soil, especially watering. If it had a poor root system it would not have been able to take up enough water to support the top growth, and evergreens don't have the option to drop their leaves.
even if it does survive, Picea abies are not the best of garden trees and this one has not had a good start. As someone has already said, perhaps you should treat this as a planting opportunity. Try googling a tree called Cercis Forest Pansy.