Garden Q&A: How can I stop my hawthorn tree from shedding its leaves?

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

Hawthorn: 'I have cut back my hawthorn tree and am wondering what else I can do to try to keep the leaves healthy and prevent the tree from losing them. My tree is usually almost completely bare by August.' File picture

I have a hawthorn tree in my garden that has bloomed for the past 30 years every May with a pink blossom. However for the last two years, once the tree blooms, the leaves are covered with brown spots and fall off the tree immediately — and my tree is almost completely bare by August. I have cut back the tree and am wondering what else I can do to try keep the leaves healthy and prevent the tree from losing them so quickly this year? The tree has new buds appearing so the tree is still alive.

ANSWER