[kennyodea]

Hello, one of my alder trees which I transplanted last December now appears to be dead. It put out small leaves but now many branches of the have gone completely brown. Others look very limp. I have watered it a lot and under the bark still is nice and green. Any recommendation would be appreciated. Regards, Kenny

[john1412]

i'll say it before someone else does but have you got a picture? and i'd say don't worry too much and maybe give it until next year, the shock from a change of environment might have done it, it might just need time to establish its self in the new location

[kennyodea]

thanks for that

[tippben]

It's surface roots (the root collar) should be at the soil surface. If it was planted deeper, that would cause the symptoms you describe. Lots of water (flooding) is what it likes. All you can do at this point is ensure constant sogginess. In the winter, you can perhaps lift it a bit, if it was planted too deep. If parts die back, but the plant survives, don't worry. Alder is a coppice tree (used for charcoal production), so you can cut back as much as you like in winter, and it will grow again, as long as it is planted at the correct depth, and it has a constant supply of water to draw from.

[kennyodea]

thanks very muck that's great. I could have easily planted it a bit to deep. Can you answer another question for me. my beech hedge is sown in an area close to a retaining wall on one side. It has produced a nice crop of leaves but now it is producing some tiny yellow leaves. It has done the same for the past 2 years. it has been fertilised with 7-6-17 (NPK). Any advice. It is 2 years old