Camellia

owd potter

Hiya all,
Does anyone know why the leaves on my Camellia are yellowing?
Also it has far less flowers this year.
I am wondering if both of these are due to the long, hot, dry summer last year. Although a neighbour has the same growing up the front of the house to roof level and it does not seem to have been affected at all. 
I pruned this following flowering last year, reducing by about 1/3 as it was getting too large for it's location. Could this be it? 
appreciate any comments.
Owd 

Fairygirl

Both of those things will have affected it. They need to be kept very moist at the end of the summer to ensure good bud development, and if it's been pruned back a good bit, it can take a while to recover and produce more flowers. It will be fine though 
It's just a bit chlorotic [ the yellowing leaves ] so you can give it a tonic of a suitable feed to help it. It's natural for evergreens to shed some foliage anyway, so don;tworry about that either.
 It won't help being so close to the grass though. A lot of competition for water, so make sure it has plenty of water during dry spells.

owd potter

Thanks FG
I recently applied a general fertilizer with chicken manure pellets or does it need a more specialized ericaceous feed?
I'll make sure it gets plenty of water this year.
Owd.

batwood14

Hi - its an iron deficiency in the soil or that the plant can't readily take it up as its not in the right state. Use sequestered iron feed to correct this.

Borderline

Chicken manure is not suitable for Camellias. Longterm, you can lay a thick cover of ericaceous compost. The way your shrub is growing, I think you probably pruned late or quite far back, so that's why there is less flowering. 

tsteed97

Have you tested your soil pH. Camelia like acidic soils and a lack there of causes yellowing. Definitely needs iron feed as stated above.

owd potter

Hi Guys, 
Thanks for the valuable tips and comments.
@batwood14 .Sequestered Iron feed it is then. Someone suggested this for one of my Rhododendrons and which I have not yet procured I shall get along to the apothecary (aka garden centre) tout suite.
We moved into this place just about a year ago and inherited the very mature garden with some wonderful specimens, but which unfortunately had been deprived of attention and become a little unkempt. I therefore spent last year (and it continues) getting it back into shape. 
@Borderline. I pruned this Camellia at end of May following flowering. It was very dense and I pruned to remove the dead internal growth, reduce volume and let in some light and air. I gave it a little external tidy at the same time. As can be seen, it has produced a lot of new growth at the top but few flowers.
@tsteed97 Whilst I have not tested the soil pH, we have 6 mature Rhododendrons, 2 Camellia and Hydrangeas that flower blue, so I would be surprised if the soil is other than Acidic, but I guess I should really test it all the same to confirm. 
Once again, thanks all for the valuable info. I am keen but a relative novice so much appreciated.  

Obelixx

Chlorosis also indicates magnesium deficiency which can be fixed by filling a 10litre watering can with rainwater, dissolving in it 15ml of Epsom salts and then, with the spray rose attached, pour it over the foliage of rhodos, camellias, azaleas , skimmias, pieris and any other acid loving plants. 

This will provide an instant tonic but may need to be repeated.  Muching around the roots with ericaceous compost after a good, heavy rainfall will help maintain health.  Watering during dry spells from August onwards will help flower bud formation.  keep it up if September is dry or they sacrifice flower buds to stay healthy.

owd potter

@Obelixx I remember now who it was advised sequestered iron feed (and a dose of salts...)  
thanks.