dont know about this one... mabye thats where the new branches will grow giving the tree like plant a shrub like look.

The obvious answer is dryness at the roots, despite your watering (I recall your question on this a while back), though if you had the plants standing in an outer container which you didn't empty of water, they may have got waterlogged. Nonetheless, it might be the fault of the garden centre - although they were on display outside in the open, they may only have been there since the day before, and previously stored undercover or inside, so environmental transition shock could also be responsible.

Doesn't help I know but there is no point in feeding a distressed plant unless you are sure that's the problem. The fact that they are recovering with less watering suggests you nay have been overdoing it. Unless you are dealing with a bog plant its best to wait until the compost is almost dry before watering - too much actually drowns the roots which need the tiny air spaces between the particles of soil.

Thanks to you all, I don't think I overwatered as they were standing on shingle not in a container, but you're right they only started to shoot after I gave up on them and they were almost dry, but somebody else suggested maybe they were newstock and hadn't been acclimatised oh well at least one is struggling to recover.

Difficult one isn't it? However you are getting some new growth and that's the main thing.

Thanks, I will learn but how do I make my fingers green (no suggestions of rubbing them in moss !)

Careful attention to your plants , to learn what each one likes and dislikes - its mainly just experience and learning from your mistakes (and reading Goy...) Doesn't work miracles but it does improve things! (And you could try talking to them...)

Hello again not been able to access due to password issues now finally resolved!

grass has come up beautifully, now a lovely green lawn, although not perfectly smooth but I am sure with rolling will come to it in time, planted dahlias which have bloomed all summer long and still going.Poly tunnel worked within reason, kept netted but one day found about 50 catapillars so pulled out all plants. Toms doing okay, sweetcorn was brilliant, first time i have ever grown this. Cougette plant went mad, missed one and had a whopping marrow, cucumbers good Butternut squash doing well, pumpkin quite small still, onions ready to come out, what can I grow in there now (it wont be heated over winter)
Had A LOVELY SURPRISE hubby built me a pergola, perfect, in the corner with a bench facing the setting sun, overlooking the entire garden, heaven. Planted lots of plants hopefully by next year will have flourished and established