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What is wrong with this plant?

Suzie 2Suzie 2 Posts: 5
in Problem solving

image

 

We inherited this mature shrub when we moved here. 7 years ago. It's usually evergreen but in the last 2 weeks this has happened ..... Help please !!!

Posts

  • Diamond JulesDiamond Jules Posts: 7

    Er - at the risk of sounding stupid - is it just lack of water?  How much rain have you had?  Here in the SE we have had very little.

  • Suzie 2Suzie 2 Posts: 5

    Nope we've had plenty ..... Live in Plymouth so fairly wet !!

  • addictaddict Posts: 659

    Has it rained and then got really hot and sunny quickly afterwards? The leaves look burnt. What is the shrub? 

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,312

    it's so sad looking I can't see what it is, or wasimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Suzie 2Suzie 2 Posts: 5

    I did wonder that .... As we have had some very hot days interpspersed with heavy rain. I have no idea what it is, just that its evergreen and mature which is something sadly lacking in my garden. I am hoping it is due to the heat, not a disease. 

  • addictaddict Posts: 659

    If you look inside the shrub are the leaves there still healthy?

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,157

    It looks as if your garden slopes - although you've had some heavy rain the ground was probably baked hard earlier in the year and even heavy rain will not have soaked in much but will have run off the surface of a slope. 

    Coupled with that the base of the shrub is surrounded with other plants, including what looks like a large green tree or shrub nearby, all competing for water and nutrients.  It would have had a better chance if an area around the roots (a metre diameter) was clear of plants and the soil mulched with something to help retain moisture.

    I'm afraid it's suffering from drought conditions at the roots.  image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Suzie 2Suzie 2 Posts: 5

    Ok that makes sense, thank you. I suppose the weather has been exceptional! do you think that's that then, or is it worth seeing what happens? That area has been a bit neglected of late. It's a big garden and I don't get as much time out there as I'd like. Thank you 

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,157

    I'd get out there now, pull up all that ivy and the ferns and everything else around it's base and make a clear circle of at least a metre diameter around it.  Lightly fork over the top few inches and give it a really good soaking, two big buckets full poured slowly onto the ground around it every day for a week, rain or shine.  Pour it slowly so that it soaks in and doesn't run away.  

    The following week give it one bucket full on alternate days.  After that give it a bucket full twice a week until the weather turns cold.

    Then mulch that circle of bare soil with a good layer of well rotted farmyard manure (don't let it touch the stem) and cross your fingers/pray/throw a coin in a wishing well.

    Over the winter all those brown leaves will shrivel, fall off and blow away in the winter winds.  With luck in the spring you'll see little green buds.  

    If you do then you can open a bottle of something fizzy and post another pic image

     

     

     


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Suzie 2Suzie 2 Posts: 5

    Thanks - will get out there tomorrow !! 

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