If it were me (having grown it from seed and looked after it for 20 odd years), I'd most definitely give it a further year in the ground, before making a final decision on removing it (fingers-crossed it won't come to that).

In the meantime I would:

• Spread a 50mm layer of good quality compost all the way around it (about 1 to 1.5m diameter). This will feed the shrub naturally and slowly.
• Keep a regularly eye on it & check for any sign of pest damage/infection.
• In warm, dry spells, make sure it gets a good drink (water slowly & deeply).
• Propagate, take a cutting or two and try to grow new stock on (therefore if worst case scenario strikes and you lose the original, you will have a new shrub from the parent stock).
• If the shrub was still in the ground when winter arrives and appears to be making a recovery, I would come up with something to protect it through the worst of the winter weather.

If it were me (having grown it from seed and looked after it for 20 odd years), I'd most definitely give it a further year in the ground, before making a final decision on removing it (fingers-crossed it won't come to that).

In the meantime I would:

• Spread a 50mm layer of good quality compost all the way around it (about 1 to 1.5m diameter). This will feed the shrub naturally and slowly.
• Keep a regular eye on it & check for any sign of pest damage/infection.
• In warm, dry spells, make sure it gets a good drink (water slowly & deeply).
• Propagate, take a cutting or two and try to grow new stock on (therefore if worst case scenario strikes and you lose the original, you will have a new shrub from the parent stock).
• If the shrub was still in the ground when winter arrives and appears to be making a recovery, I would come up with something to protect it through the worst of the winter weather.

If it were me (having grown it from seed and looked after it for 20 odd years), I'd most definitely give it a further year in the ground, before making a final decision on removing it (fingers-crossed it won't come to that).

In the meantime I would:

• Spread a 50mm layer of good quality compost all the way around it (about 1 to 1.5m diameter). This will feed the tree naturally and slowly.
• Keep a regularly eye on it & check for any sign of pest damage/infection.
• In warm, dry spells, make sure it gets a good drink (water slowly & deeply).

If it were me (having grown it from seed and looked after it for 20 odd years), I'd most definitely give it a further year in the ground, before making a final decision on removing it (fingers-crossed it won't come to that).

In the meantime I would:

• Spread a 50mm layer of good quality compost all the way around it (about 1 to 1.5m diameter). This will feed the shrub naturally and slowly.
• Keep a regularly eye on it & check for any sign of pest damage/infection.
• In warm, dry spells, make sure it gets a good drink (water slowly & deeply).
• Propagate, take a cutting or two and try to grow new stock on (therefore if worst case scenario strikes and you lose the original, you will have a new shrub from the parent stock).
• If the shrub was still in the ground when winter arrives and appears to be making a recovery, I would come up with something to protect it through the worst of the winter weather.