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Gardening

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Original poster

Why this plant done this

29 replies

Philosopherstone · 16/08/2023 15:52

It's supposed to look like the first picture but it has turned out like the second. I haven't touched it. New build house and it was planted in winter. Neighbours one is perfect. Anything I can do

Why this plant done this
Why this plant done this
OP posts:
Piranhaha · 16/08/2023 15:55

That is dead I’m afraid. The root might still be alive because it looks like it’s sprouted a new stem from the bottom?

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 16/08/2023 15:57

It's not dead if it's got green leaves on it still. Needs cutting right back and keep your fingers crossed. Someone else will know about maybe what it needs feeding .

NanTheWiser · 16/08/2023 16:09

I think this is a grafted Pink Willow. Looks as though the top has died, and the grafting stock is sprouting, so it won’t look like it did originally.

FloofCloud · 16/08/2023 16:10

NanTheWiser · 16/08/2023 16:09

I think this is a grafted Pink Willow. Looks as though the top has died, and the grafting stock is sprouting, so it won’t look like it did originally.

I agree, I think they're grafted too

Busubaba · 16/08/2023 16:11

It's a flamingo willow and as the previous poster said, it's been crafted onto another type of salix.

What has happened is that it has produced growth from the tree it's been grafted on to and the tree has put all of its energy into that growth, resulting in the flamingo willow dying off.

You have to maintain standard trees and not allow growth from below.

MereDintofPandiculation · 16/08/2023 17:03

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 16/08/2023 15:57

It's not dead if it's got green leaves on it still. Needs cutting right back and keep your fingers crossed. Someone else will know about maybe what it needs feeding .

What she bought is dead. It was grafted on to a rootstock, the graft has failed, the plant she bought has died, and the rootstock is throwing up shoots. A different species of willow altogether.

brokenlore · 16/08/2023 17:12

Yeh, the graft has died, the root stock looks like bogstandard willow, which will grow huge if left unchecked.
Take the whole thing out.
As to why it died, well that depends, when did you plant it? Did you keep it well watered? Did the leaves go yellow? If so I'd hazard a guess it's on an acid soil, normal willow is as tough as old boots, and can grow pretty much anywhere but the pretty little graft if more sensitive. Alternatively it could just have been a bad graft, supermarket bought trees are normally cheaper than nursery trees, due to cheaper root stock which will revert to type very quickly and easily.
I future where you see the graft, cut away any growth below the graft.

senua · 16/08/2023 17:24

Neighbour's one is perfect. Anything I can do?
Switch plants and hope that they don't notice.Grin

Original poster
Philosopherstone · 16/08/2023 20:31

Are these plants always grafted, there is 4 houses in a row all the same plant and mines is the only one like this, the developers put them in.

OP posts:
NanTheWiser · 16/08/2023 21:28

Philosopherstone · 16/08/2023 20:31

Are these plants always grafted, there is 4 houses in a row all the same plant and mines is the only one like this, the developers put them in.

Yes, they grow much more easily on a graft, especially being variegated, which aren’t so easy to grow.

Piranhaha · 16/08/2023 21:29

Yes they are usually grafted. You can buy a new one for about thirty quid and dig that one out. I wouldn’t bin it though - the rootstock will still grow into a lovely tree! You could plant it in a park or somewhere and it will grow and look lovely.

Busubaba · 16/08/2023 21:53

Philosopherstone · 16/08/2023 20:31

Are these plants always grafted, there is 4 houses in a row all the same plant and mines is the only one like this, the developers put them in.

They may have maintained their ones and not let shoots grow from the trees the flamingo willow is grafted on.

You have let yours grow and it's killed the grafted willow because it's directed all its nutrients away from it in order to grow from the main tree.

calmcoco · 16/08/2023 21:55

Philosopherstone · 16/08/2023 20:31

Are these plants always grafted, there is 4 houses in a row all the same plant and mines is the only one like this, the developers put them in.

Just the luck of the draw, unfortunately.

ErrolTheDragon · 16/08/2023 23:38

Tbh with plants put in by developers, unless they're something tough as old boots the surprising thing is that 3 out of 4 are still surviving. (Our garden came with a couple of small trees both planted way too deep)

ErrolTheDragon · 16/08/2023 23:40

Sorry, meant to add, the developers did replace the dead trees, I think we must have reported it as a fault. So maybe try that before shelling out for a new plant yourself, but make sure it's planted properly.

Plantyplantplants · 16/08/2023 23:48

These plants dry out really easily, you need to keep them regularly watered.

AlfietheSchnauzer · 17/08/2023 00:17

Dogs have weed on it

MereDintofPandiculation · 17/08/2023 07:51

AlfietheSchnauzer · 17/08/2023 00:17

Dogs have weed on it

Why do you think that? The growth at the base is fine

Original poster
Philosopherstone · 17/08/2023 08:14

Thanks all I guess I got the unlucky one then, we only moved in November 2022 so we would not have touched the plant at this stage, then it just didn't bloom at all. It's only the last 2 months that these other things have grown from the base

OP posts:
SarahAndQuack · 18/08/2023 20:05

You wouldn't expect flamingo salix to bloom very noticeably. I don't think it's obvious that the graft has failed - it might be that, but could equally be that the suckering growth from below the graft site just over-competed and killed it.

In the picture, I can't actually see the graft. Is there any bump or discontinuity in the trunk that you can see or feel? If not, it's probably been buried underground when the tree was planted. This will encourage the tree to shoot from blow the graft, and could well be why yours has died while others thrived. Usually, the rootstock is much stronger and more robust than the grafted top part, so if you give it the conditions where it can put all its energy into making new growth of its own, it'll do that, and leave the grafted top to starve.

MereDintofPandiculation · 19/08/2023 10:21

@SarahAndQuack There’s a distinct kink in the stem just below the dead crown. Also, one of the branches I think is coming from just below there, rather than from the base.

Merapi · 19/08/2023 11:42

You really don't want the bottom half of it to get going. It will grow like a mad thing and you'll have the devil's own job getting rid of it. Get shot of it now and go to a garden centre and buy a new one to replace it.

sashagabadon · 19/08/2023 11:49

Report it as a defect to the developer and ask for £30 to replace!

SarahAndQuack · 19/08/2023 12:24

MereDintofPandiculation · 19/08/2023 10:21

@SarahAndQuack There’s a distinct kink in the stem just below the dead crown. Also, one of the branches I think is coming from just below there, rather than from the base.

Got it! I was looking on my phone screen. I should know better.

Oldraver · 20/08/2023 10:47

I have one of these and it didn't do too well last year, but came back this year

I would chop off the sprouts from the bottom