Forum home› Plants

Pittosporum has randomly died

amy_hamiltonamy_hamilton Posts: 29
in Plants
I have I have three pittosporum that have been planted since early spring…planted in same location and treated identically but one has died suddenly over the course of the weekend. Any ideas on why, before I purchase a replacement or incase it happens to the others!? Many thanks 

Posts

  • amy_hamiltonamy_hamilton Posts: 29

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,262
    edited September 2021
    Dry? Waterlogged? Both can have the same symptoms.
    Animal peeing on it?
    They would have needed well watered if planted this spring, but it also depends on how well the ground was prepped. The slate seems right up against the shrubs too - that can be a problem. 
    It won't have suddenly died over the weekend - it will have been struggling before that.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • amy_hamiltonamy_hamilton Posts: 29
    Yes quite possibly and hopefully it’s just one of those things. The exact same plants are thriving either side of it so I was worried it might be something sinister but if just plant care that can easily be rectified! Just need to get hold of a replacement now! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,262
    Sometimes it can be as simple as the roots not spreading outwards - if the plant was a bit pot bound for example, when planted.
    The only other thing is vine weevil damage - but I'm not sure they're terribly prone to that. If you lift it out, and see the grubs, then that's the reason, and it can affect plants quickly. 

    Sometimes - these things have no explanation. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • amy_hamiltonamy_hamilton Posts: 29
     thank you muchly for your advice Fairygirl, really helpful 😊
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,262
    Hope it isn't anything too major @amy_hamilton.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • amy_hamiltonamy_hamilton Posts: 29
    edited September 2021
    @Fairygirl perhaps should have just had a look in the first place, but there is a huge ants nest underneath it! Mystery solved. Any tips on clearing an ants nest!? 🙈
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 50,262
    Ah - it'll have been very dry probably. Ants like that for making nests, and with the proximity to the wall, it's not surprising. That's a shame though.
    I've never had nests in any garden - they don't bother us much in our climate.
    I think you'd be best just to water thoroughly - a real soaking - and that should send them off elsewhere. 
    You'd then just have to sort the soil out a bit if you want to plant something else.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.