Help! Have my mature plants died?

joannaweeden

Hi there,

We bought our house last year, and decided to tame the jungle of a garden earlier this year by having it landscaped.
amongst the brambles and weeds we do have lots of lovely mature plants which we’ve kept, such as roses, a large hydrangea and camelia. 

2 of the rose bushes, the hydrangea and the camelia were moved during the works and reworking of the beds, and they seem to have all died since being in their new positions.
I’m planning on waiting for autumn to do some maintenance on the roses and see if they come back next summer, but I fear that the hydrangea and camelia are done for

i’ve attached photos of all 4 so let me know if you think there’s hope of them coming back next year after some cutting back.

Worth noting that all were starting to bud when they were moved...
The whole garden gets sun and shade depending on time of day and is all watered regularly, all other plants doing well.

thanks in advance!
guilty plant mum, Joanna

amancalledgeorge

The plants being in such a sorry state I'd wonder how well prepared was the receiving ground and how much of the root ball was preserved. They look like lost causes to me even if the rose in the last photo looks alive. Even if you gave them a very hard chop can't imagine they'd ever become vigorous or beautiful. I'd say replace them with young plants that will flourish in the right location and conditions.

AnniD

It looks like the camellia has had it. You could try the bark test on the hydrangea and the roses -scrape away the bark carefully with a fingernail and see if it's green. If it is, there may still be life.
I agree with George,  unless there is some sentimental reason for trying to keep them, l would get rid of them then wait until the autumn when planting conditions improve and replace them.

Lyn

Plants that size done really move well. I would cut the losses and buy new ones.

joannaweeden

Thank you all for your responses! 

I think we’ll cut our losses and go for something new