• 0
  • Welcome to the Garden Ninja Gardening Forum! If you have a gardening question that you can't find answers to then ask below to seek help from the Garden Ninja army! Please make your garden questions as specific and detailed as possible so the community can provide comprehensive answers in the online forum below.

    Welcome to the ultimate beginner gardening and garden design forum! Where no gardening question is too silly or obvious. This online gardening forum is run by Lee Burkhill, the Garden Ninja from BBC 1's Garden Rescue and a trusted group of experienced gardeners.

    Whether you are a beginner or an expert gardener, it's a safe place to ask garden-related questions for garden design or planting. If you have a problem in your garden or need help, this is the Garden Forum for you!

    Garden Ninja forum ask a question

    Posting Rules: This space is open for all garden-related questions. Please be polite, courteous and respectful. If you wouldn't say it to your mum's face, then don't post it here. Please don't promote, sell, link spam or advertise here. Please don't ask for 'cheeky' full Garden redesigns here. They will be deleted.

    If you need a garden design service, please use this page to book a design consultation. I will block anyone who breaks these rules or is discourteous to the Garden Ninja Community.

    Join the forum below with your gardening questions!

    Please or Register to create posts and topics.

    Salix flamingo tree.

    I've posted on this tree in my garden before but I've just taken a photo this morning and wonder what you think my course of action is going forward .

    I don't think it looks great at the moment , but need more advice on when to start using fertiliser on it.

    I've also added a photo from last June 2024.

    Uploaded files:
    • IMG_20240622_195842113_HDR2.jpg
    • IMG_20250121_092054431.jpg

    Hi @tolkienista37

    Thanks for the follow-up to your previous Salix question here.

    Looking at your photos, it looks like a large part of the Salix (Flamingo willow) is dead, unfortunately!

    I can tell by the very dark brown, almost charcoal steam that has no new growth and the bright red soft stems of the living part. Even with a skilled arborist, I doubt there is a way to save it and to be able to save it, as it's a grafted tree to keep that form!

    Sorry I can;t be the bearer of better news. Here's my guide to 10 fantastic small garden trees though to replace it.

    All the best

    Lee Garden Ninja

    Thanks @ Lee Garden Ninja for your reply.

    I must admit I'm not really surprised by your assessment of my tree as I'd gathered much of it was dead wood, but of course I'm disappointed as I thought I was looking after it properly, but the tree had other ideas!

    Thanks too for the suggestions you've added, I'll have a look through those and decide what to do moving forward. All the very best and thanks again for getting back to me so quickly, much appreciated.

    Online garden design courses

    Share this now!