Q: I have had a monkey puzzle growing in my garden for about 25 years its a tad spindly and new growth always goes a brown color shortly after appearing. What fertilizer mix would you suggest?

A: Monkey puzzle (Araucara araucana) is considered an evergreen species and deciduous shrubs and a few are herbaceous perennials.

They need shelter form strong drying winds and will tolerate full sun or part-shade beneath a canopy of other trees. Even though your plant is very mature has its surroundings changed any ??

Moist fertile soils will suit them well but even poorer soils will produce hardier longer living specimens. So fertilizing does not seem to be an issue. Unless there is a definite yellowing and lack of evident nutrients being received by the tree.

The new growth may be being attacked by something microscopic, give it a once over and see if there is something "eating" on the new stems?.

Brown often indicates dryness and this you would be able to tell right away.