growmore or fish blood and bone scattered around the base and out wards to the same amount as the tips of the branches. most of the working roots for taking in water and nutrients are out towards the edges.

Thanks Seaburngirl I have used that in the past. I wonder if it might be too dry so will give it more feed and more water. If it doesn't buck up I shall plant another one in another place. Its really disappointing!

Eleagnus is supposed to be drought-tolerant. Perhaps it's coming to the end of its life, especially as you say it has always struggled.

Landgirl100 Surely 12 yrs is not that old! I suppose its possible that it was not a good specimen. I didn't know they were drought tolerant or had forgotten so thank you for that info.

Seaburngirl and Landgirl 100 I used a saw to cut out all the dead wood on the Eleagnus and now just less than two months later its a beautiful shrub. I watered it well and gave it some feed so seems to have paid off.