Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I'm not yet digital so can't post any photos. We're in the midlands of the UK and have had a mixture of sun and rain since planting. There was a spell of strong westerly winds during the time immediately prior to the degeneration process (which, since my last post, has worsened in still conditions) but the trees are held by stakes facing the wind and the area is relatively sheltered anyway. The weedkiller used was Sodium Chlorate. The saplings' lower growth is drying up and dropping off. The higher branches are unaffected, so far. The other 'fatalities' are two Erysimum and two white flowering shrubs, the name of which eludes me. One of the trees is less affected than the other and this stands 6 metres away on slightly lower ground. Two Virginia creepers are unaffected as are several conifers. A Cordyline that stands between trees is thriving as are several Pieris japonicas. |