United Kingdom

For the last 8 years we have had a half standard cupressus castlewellan in a 55cm diamter tub outside our south-east facing front door. We have watered and trimmed it regularly and feed in spring each year. However, this spring it looks as though it has died - all the foliage is brown and brittle and there don't seem to be any green shoots anywhere. Is this a victim on the very cold winter we have had (we went down to -18deg several nights) or has something else caused its death. Is it indeed dead or should we give it longer to see if it does anything?

• 17 May, 2010