What happened to my camelia?!

Qas

I bought two camelias from Aldi in late spring and planted them up.  They did well and even formed flowers in a month after planting.   One of them is doing very poorly in the recent month.  I havent watered them much recently as it has been raining on and off here in guildford, north westish of london but during july was watering regularly and even put down some ericaceous soil around. One is thriving but the other one looks like it got rust and droopy leaves ...aaaah   noticed the plants next to it are not fairing better either suddenly..any help fellow gardeners?

This camelia is on opposite side of garden and gets same amount of sun and thriving 




And this one doing poorly
Notice the rust spots and one leave even shriveled up


And here the shrub next to it

Fire

It's good to give your camellia plants a really good watering at the moment. They look like they need it. They need extra amounts when buds are forming. They are planted close to the fence and this with block lots of the rain from getting to the plants. Give several big buckets every week and keep going until the winter rains come.

They like being planted into ericaceous soil rather than clay. You could try digging out the plants, taking out a large area and replacing it.

Borderline

I can't see any Camellias in your photos. The top 4 photos look like Rhododendrons to me, and both look fine. The one further down has been nibbled a bit, but nothing unusual in an average garden over time.

The bottom two photos look like a Forsythia shrub, and again, nothing too serious. It's about to lose its leaves for the winter time soon, so not to worry about the leaves. Possible scorching from water on leaves in high sun. Just rake away the leaves when they drop and don't leave them lying around the base in case there is a fungal infection that can re-infect your shrub next year.

As Fire suggests, keep up the watering on all newly planted shrubs, especially in the hot dry months. If you can, collect rain water too, they will appreciate it over tap water. 

Fire

Guernsey Donkey2

I agree Borderline - these are Rhododendrons not camellias.  In the long term they are planted far too close to the fence - they need to be planted a good metre if not more away from any solid boundary/wall/fence etc.  Regular watering is essential when they are newly planted - for the first year or so, and a good mulch is needed to keep that moisture around the plant.  They sun has been extremely hot this year and soil dries out very quickly in the heat..

Mary370

I also agree with borderline and guernsey donkey.......they are not camelias, one of the rhododendrons

Qas

thanks for the suggestions @Fire and everyone, I shall increase the TLC and hopefully next year it pulls through!  Yes, it is a Rhododendron of course

Fire

I was laughing because I didn't spot the Rhododendron.

Big Bang Inflation

Having both plants in my garden, I agree, they're Rhododendrons in your first photographs and not Camellias.

You have to love Aldi !

Qas