Monkey Puzzle help
bartmanian
Posts: 2
Hi I wonder if anyone can give advice. I have a mature Monkey Puzzle tree, which I planted 24 years ago. It is about 7 metres high now, but has started showing brown branches, both lower and upper (but mostly lower). I have recently built a retaining wall around the tree, but did 'catch' a small root, whilst building it. Have I inadvertently killed off my pride and joy? is there anything that I can do to stop the branches turning brown?
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I think it's a normal part of their lives bartmanian. I have one which was here when I moved in 5 years ago so not sure how old it is but I'd guess it's about the same age as yours as a similar height and a few of the smaller 'spur type' branches are doing exactly what you describe although they're all at the lower level.
When I first moved in, I cut a lot of the lower branches off to make space underneath and have since planted a rosemary and some sage underneath disturbing the roots quite a bit in the process. Mine is in the right angle between the fence and the shed and south facing so a very dry environment. There is fresh new growth at the end of most of the branches and seed pods forming all over the place so I think it's ok.
Is yours showing any new growth? If so, I think you should be hopeful.
We have a lot of them round here - they like our climate. I think it's a bit like other pines and conifers - the odd branch dies back for no obvious reason, and it isn't necessarily phytophthora or anything serious.
Unless you get a considerable amount of them dying, I wouldn't worry too much. Check that it isn't short of water though.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sorry, not a great picture, but hopefully you can see the odd brown branch. I have watered and it's rained quite a bit recently. In the past 20 odd years, I haven't watered once, so may just have been lucky until now.
Last edited: 02 August 2017 13:51:53
That's a baby, not a mature tree. when they are young you can cut branches, and you don't look to have many brown, I think its normal.