Single hen

[Guest]

Last year we bought a pot grown Christmas tree, and it has spent most of the year quite happily in its pot on the patio.

 

Last month we decided to plant it in the front garden, and get a new one this year for the house, however, since we planted it, it has gone severely downhill, with most of the needles turning brown. It looks quite sad now, and I'm not sure what to do to help it perk up.

 

Any advice?

[Anna 1]

It really depends on the variety. Is it in too damp a spot? Most pine trees like well-drained soil. Also, it could ahve been pot-bound when you planted it out and the roots haven't managed to untangle themselves. I'll have a look in my book for you if you can let me know what type of tree it is!

[Guest]

 

I'm not very sure what kind it is, when Chookiehubbie gets home from London on Monday I'll ask if he knows.

 

I am rubbish!

[Lesley]

I tried for a few years to keep a rooted Christmas tree and succeeded in killing them all i gave up in the end and bought a very good artificial tree.

 

I can't think of anything other than what Anna has said.

[motherhen]

If it did so well in the pot and only went flop bots when you planted it, I'm wondering if you have a chalk or other alkaline soil. I think pine trees like an acidic soil. Perhaps you could try replanting it in a hole with loads of ericaseous

compost (I'm sure that's not how its spelt but I hope you know what I mean)

[Trish]

Could also be related to where it's planted, in terms of wind and drainage, sorry if I'm repeating anyone, we did the same thing here and I have to report we lost the patient

[Guest]

If it did so well in the pot and only went flop bots when you planted it, I'm wondering if you have a chalk or other alkaline soil. I think pine trees like an acidic soil. Perhaps you could try replanting it in a hole with loads of ericaseous

compost (I'm sure that's not how its spelt but I hope you know what I mean)

 

I never thought of testing the soil - I'm a bit of a gardening novice and just chuck things in and hope for the best! I'll get my dad down to test it, and take action if required!

 

Thanks!

[Mel (& Paul)]

When we got married (16 years and 2 days ago!!) we bought a live christmas tree and planted it in the new year - we followed all the advice about moving it out slowly etc. It was a symbal of our our love - as the Christmas tree grew so would our love. It had died by July Luckily we are still in love

[Cate in NZ]

Oh Mel

What a lovely idea, such a pity the tree didn't oblige.

[Mel (& Paul)]

I know

We make do with a fake one now (sad isnt it!) but we cover it with little souveniers from our holidays - that way we remember all our fab hols each Christmas - we have little wooden stars from Nepal, little rafia elephants / giraffes / zebra and lions from Tanzinia, a scarab beetle from Egypt, a little wooden elephant from India, some really pretty baubles from China etc, etc, - now we are on the look out for anything chooky!!!