Pieris leaf drop

JudyN

My pieris 'Flaming Silver' lived out the front of the house (west facing) for several years where it survived being baked but didn't grow much. A couple of years we moved it to the back garden against a north-facing fence where it seemed to flourish. But over the last couple of weeks, this has happened :

The soil is acid and sandy. It's generally dry, but being in the shade this positio maintains moisture better.

Can anyone suggest what the problem is, and what the chances of recovery, please?

JudyN

Thanks Verdun - and there was me thinking it might have some exotic disease

paolomh

Sorry but I can't see Verdun reply.. what happened? could you plz update? 

Mary370

?????? Verduns reply??  

Mary370

Ohhh lol that's a posting from 2016

JudyN

I got an email notification of the reply though! I don't know what happened to Verdun's reply... I think it was on the lines of water, water and water.

The pieris didn't make it, though, and there's now a hydrangea growing in its place which seems to be very happy

Mary370

Who doesn't love a hydrangea. ....

Fairygirl

There are a few people no longer on the forum - for various reasons. Verdun is one of them.
In case you get another one - Pieris do prefer a bit of shade and a good bit of moisture. They can cope with sun if they get plenty of rain and the ground doesn't get dried out for long periods. The variegated ones aren't as tough as the plain ones though   

JudyN

It's sad to hear Verdun has left, he/she was always really helpful.

The pieris had plenty of shade, but our soil is quite dry, which won't have helped - it would have been much moister than when it lived in the front garden though. I do think it must have had some sort of disease though as its decline was so swift.