Is this tree fucked?

[Hollis]

Several months ago the neighbour's son "the gardener" - left this tree in my garden with the intention of bunging it in the pot. Several months later the tree is now mainly brown and still outside the pot.

I am not sure if the situation is retrievable or even if the tree is a tree that should be grown in a pot.

The tree in question is a 'Golden Leyland Cypress'..

Any advice welcome..

 

[farmerbarleymow]

If you repot it it might spring back to life. Trees are pretty resilient.

 

[WouldBe]

Should be able to grow any tree in a pot it will just restrict it's growth.

Not sure about a leylandii but the cyprus I had when some of it went brown wouldn't grow back.

Only way to find out is water it well and see how it goes.

 

[nogojones]

It will survive. It's had a hard year, but I'm sure it can recover. But do you really want it to?

It's not going to achieve it's full potential in a pot. It's a tree and a potentially very big one (100ft high type big).

I'd be pissed off if any neighbour planted that near me

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Give the tree regular hugs to make it feel valued Hollis

 

[Brainaddict]

It might survive but the brown bits are permanently dead so it will look quite messy. Honestly that tree species is not suitable for pots or even for gardens. I would get rid and just get a tree that you actually want.

 

[WouldBe]

I'd be pissed off if any neighbour planted that near me

I've got some nextdoor to me.

 

[platinumsage]

If neither you nor your gardener can be arsed to water or re-pot a clearly struggling tree for several months I suggest filling the pot with something other than a plant.

 

[Hollis]

I actually want something to grow about 3-4 meters maximum. Has to be in a pot, as there's concrete next to the fence. And yes, I do want something low maintenance..

 

[platinumsage]

How about a Trichocerus cactus?

 

[pogofish]

I don't think that Golden Leyland Cypress is a tree - Its a commercially developed hedging conifer IIRC.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

If neither you nor your gardener can be arsed to water or re-pot a clearly struggling tree for several months I suggest filling the pot with something other than a plant.

The poor tree has turned brown in a protest against the negligence of Hollis

(((tree)))

 

[nogojones]

How about a Trichocerus cactus?

I have cuttings galore, if anyone wants one. It will take a while to get to 4 meters and will need to come inside during the cold and wet.

 

[Hollis]

I'd be pissed off if any neighbour planted that near me

Seeing the neighbour has just stuck in some mother-of-god garden security lighting, pissing them off is the least of my worries...

 

[Brainaddict]

An amelanchier might fit the bill, the pot would constrain its size but not strangle it. Or there are nice shrubs like Euonymus europaeus 'Red Cascade' if you don't mind something shrubbier.

 

[nogojones]

I actually want something to grow about 3-4 meters maximum. Has to be in a pot, as there's concrete next to the fence. And yes, I do want something low maintenance..

Trees for smaller gardens / RHS Gardening

There are many trees widely available for smaller gardens, in all shapes and sizes, evergreen and deciduous. Given that many of us have limited space in which to garden, it becomes important that any trees chosen are right for their surroundings, in terms of proportion as well as for their...

www.rhs.org.uk

 

[platinumsage]

I have cuttings galore, if anyone wants one. It will take a while to get to 4 meters and will need to come inside during the cold and wet.

I keep mine outside all year, it's now too big to move.

 

[nogojones]

I keep mine outside all year, it's now too big to move.

I lost a couple when I forgot to bring them in a few years back.

Are yours in pots or the ground?

 

[platinumsage]

I lost a couple when I forgot to bring them in a few years back.

Are yours in pots or the ground?

Pots. I put a plastic bag over the soil for the winter so it doesn't get soaked. They don't mind the cold if they're not too wet.

 

[gentlegreen]

A previous neighbour had a conifer of some sort in a ridiculously small cheesy plastic "classical" pot.
I don't remember it ever being green, but I derived quite a lot of entertainment from watching the dark-leaved oxalis in the pot spread all down their garden wall to the gate and then 100 yards up to the main road over a period of years

 

[Nigel]

Yeah
as others have said re-pot it! Remember to lightly untangle roots also (lightly sprinkle re-root powder on roots an bottom also)
maybe mix stone/gravel in with earth and some (not too many stones at bottom) put larger container/pot that you have put pot with plant in, making sure the smaller pot has holes with wter in for slow release hydration!
Keep in sunlight and talk to regularly

 

[Hollis]

I am wondering about a Japanese Cherry Blossom as an option.

Prunus incisa &s;Kojo-no-mai&s; | cherry &s;Kojo-no-mai&s; Shrubs/RHS Gardening

 

[campanula]

No. It is basically fucked. Years ago, I might have faffed around, repotting and fussing but I am now hardened by the killing of many innocent plants which have failed to live up to my (very minimal) standards of beauty and utility. it will never be a thing of beauty. in the (unlikely )event of it's survival, it will always be an embarrassment, reproaching you on a daily basis. Chopper!

 

[campanula]

Ah, I see you have moved on to consider other options, Hollis. V.sensible. Allow me to suggest the very classy sorbus hupehensis 'Pink Pagoda' Beautiful in every season.If you are set on a cherry, have a look at the elegantly spreading prunus subhirtella autumnalis (can be in bloom for months, with nothing of the suburban excess of many flowering cherries).

 

[jontz01]

It's pretty fucked. I'd be giving it a good drink before repotting, leave it in water for a day or so. Like other have said, wrong tree and it's already half dead.

 

[TopCat]

Give it away on Nextdoor

 

[gentlegreen]

Ah, I see you have moved on to consider other options, Hollis. V.sensible. Allow me to suggest the very classy sorbus hupehensis 'Pink Pagoda' B

Wow !
I hope I remember this for when I'm setting up my pink garden in France... (I'm properly hooked on pink now )

My sickly self-sown peach is coming out BTW - and I would have done that even if it had set fruit ...

 

[campanula]

Yep, I have something of a pink garden too, gentlegreen. Shamelessly pretty. I have been paying attention to foliage too - glaucous, shapely pinnate leaves have been doing it for me of late. Baptisias, lespedeza and the gorgeous species rosa glauca. If I was in the market for another small tree, the pseudocacacia robinia hispida Cascade Rouge' would be up there. A lovely, but large ceanothus has filled the last gap in my garden but I can squeeze a wall climber in the last few feet of available space. I had a really floriferous anisodontea 'El Royo' for a few years but my latest addition is the dainty and mannerly wisteria substitute, indigofera ambleyantha Think you would definitely like that one.

 

[gentlegreen]

Yep, I have something of a pink garden too, gentlegreen. Shamelessly pretty. I have been paying attention to foliage too - glaucous, shapely pinnate leaves have been doing it for me of late. Baptisias, lespedeza and the gorgeous species rosa glauca. If I was in the market for another small tree, the pseudocacacia robinia hispida Cascade Rouge' would be up there. A lovely, but large ceanothus has filled the last gap in my garden but I can squeeze a wall climber in the last few feet of available space. I had a really floriferous anisodontea 'El Royo' for a few years but my latest addition is the dainty and mannerly wisteria substitute, indigofera ambleyantha Think you would definitely like that one.

I wish I could track down the giant pink wallflower I bought as plants from a now closed garden centre years ago - very pink and very fragrant.
When I grew Chiltern's version it was more red than pink and only modestly fragrant ...

 

[nogojones]

Give it away on Nextdoor

Fuck that. Sell it on Etsy as a hand nurtured, distressed style, extra-large bonsai for a oner.