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Is my tree dead? :(

awoleafawoleaf Posts: 18
in Plants
Hello folks, I am a gardening novice but trying to learn.  I was hoping you would be able to help please?  We have a tree in our garden which I suspect is dying or dead.  I've attached some pictures and I'm considering contacting a specialist but wanted to get a general steer first.  Can you help?  What do you think?

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Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 25,241
    It's dead.😕
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,116
    It's very dead ...
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,025
    Agreed... sorry!
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,116
    At least we've saved you money as you won't need to consult anyone @awoleaf ;)
      
    Once they get brown like that, you can't alter them.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • awoleafawoleaf Posts: 18
     :'(  Oh no.  Suspicion confirmed.  Thank you all.  Appreciate it.  

    Can I ask, what could have happened to it?  

    It's sibling on the left seems to be ok (although I spot a couple of small patches of browning leaves as I look now).
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,116
    They like a lot of water, so if they go short for a long period, it's easy for them to decline. Many people have had this problem in the last couple of years - with all sorts of trees and shrubs, not just conifers. 
    They can withstand quite a lot of drier conditions when well established, but sometimes it's just survival of the fittest. There's a huge amount of planting there so it's a lot of competition for moisture.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • awoleafawoleaf Posts: 18
    Thank you Fairygirl.  I appreciate your help.  I must admit, I'm not in the habit of watering the garden but perhaps need to change that.  Yes, there is a lot of plants around there.    

    How sad that the tree has died  :s   Do you have any ideas for a fast growing tree that could match its height (and will get watered!)?  I could plant another conifer but not sure how quickly it will establish and grow :)
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,241
    Is there something behind it that you want to hide? If not, I'd see how the other trees get on with a bit more space before planting something new.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • awoleafawoleaf Posts: 18
    Yes and fair question B3.  It is about privacy and there is a bit of gap now there left (especially once I remove the tree).
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 52,116
    Conifers are very slow growing, but they continue to grow so can become huge, depending on the variety. 
    The problem with fast growing trees and shrubs is that they don't conveniently stop growing at a desired height  ;)
    Getting something else established there will take a bit of effort, as it  will need a lot of watering. It would also benefit the soil to be boosted a good bit first - some good compost and well rotted manure would be good. Any organic material really. 

    You could put a climber in there for something different, but there aren't so many evergreens if you want the gap covered all year round. It would need some trellis or similar to grow on to get coverage of the gap.
    Holly or Mahonia would also be nice - a bit of contrast to the conifers, but as @B3 says, there isn't actually a lot of room and the other conifer would probably appreciate a bit more space. A columnar yew would work, and would fit the space. Quite slow growing though, as are the others I mentioned.
    Those three shrubs are all evergreens.
    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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