monkey puzzle tree

Shysal - thats why it never got planted out laziness and reluctance to give the thing its head !
Wotsamashedupjing I'll water it well and keep an eye on it
Thank you both

I hope you will not be planting it anywhere near the house. If you do, future generations will curse you. I see so many front gardens where all the light is kept from the rooms by a huge, though attractive, tree. In the right setting they are gorgeous.

I'd plant it like it is, and leave it until it's established and the new shoots are well developed, before trimming off the brown bits. Give it plenty of water.