stroud glos, United Kingdom

Can anyone please tell me what is causing the blackening of the stems and leaf death ( I have cut alot out, stems and small branch work ) of this young tree ( 3 yrs ) ? It looks like some die back . Could it be lack of water or is it poor soil ? Iv'e a Choisya ( within 6 ft ) which suffered and I gave it a feed and it's doing fab now, so I'm sure the soil is naff. It could be some disease, I don't know. I have fed it twice in the last 3 months but it isn't doing a great deal. Thankyou for any knowledge.

• 26 Jun, 2009