Help! I think I've killed DH's tree!

[hillbilly]

When we redesigned our garden 3 years ago we had to move a tree which had grown from seed brought over here from Iran about 15 years ago. Anyway it was done by professionals and moved into a really big pot which was sunk halfway into the ground. The following year we realised that perhaps the bottom of the pot should have been taken out to allow the roots to spread so we got the guys back in to do it.

Unfortunately over the last year or so the leaves have turned yellowy and started to drop a lot. It has not bore fruit this year either.

Last week I replaced a lot of surrounding earth with manure hoping it would help.

Is there anything else I can do to save it?

A few more questions

Do you know what sort of tree it is? Could you do a photo?

When you say you've replaced a lot of soil with manure, what sort of manure, and how much of the soil was replaced by manure?

Is it getting enough water?
Moving trees damages a lot of the fine roots that are essential for taking up water, so it may well be suffering from drought, particularly after a cold winter (when the ground freezes the shallower roots at least can't get water, many plants that die in winter actually die of drought rather than freezing), if you had a lot of frost.

Try giving it a bucket or two of water every week.

Grendelsmum - I am not sure of the name in English, but my dh calls it a Norange tree - it bears small sour oranges and wonderful blossom which we use in tea. Anyway it could be a persian orange tree.

I have put a pic on my profile for you to see - the left hand side of the tree shows how bad it is - there is another tree behind the right hand side so hard to see.

I used farmyard manure from homebase and I dug about 6" down and added it with some topsoil over it.

Glacierchick - yes lack of water coul be an issue - I am trying to make up for that. Yes it was a particularly bad winter and a fair amount of snow although we are in London so not as bad as everywhere else.

Just seen your picture. I'd put the gravel back round for drainage.

However, I have just killed a lemon tree this winter - at least it has no leaves or sign of any though it was green inside when I cut off a twig.

JAMM - Yes I was thinking to put stones around the base to help with retaining water. I cut off a twig yesterday and it is green inside still.

Do you think it needs to be cut right back?

From what I've read (after murdering my tree) citrus trees don't like to be moved very often and can go into shock, where their leaves fall off. I wouldn't start chopping it if it's already in shock. In fact I'd do the exact opposite of what I've done with my dead tree up to now.

Apparently they can recover but need lots of tlc. This article looks quite useful.

FWIW mine had no gravel... had been planted in the ground and has never been fed in the 2 years I've had - despite spending £12 on plant food for it. I am going to be nice to it and hope it recovers

We've also had the snow quite late so it may just be taking a while to get going again?

Thanks JAMM good article - I think I have my work cut out for me!