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Plant hospital

JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
in Problem solving
Hi,

So my plan to recover some plants by repotting them and putting them in my “courtyard” has hit a snag - they look even worse now I’ve uprooted them!

They all went in the front garden, The Garden of Desolation, last September.

The bay hasn’t grown much above or below ground and came out easily, all leaves are crispy.

The rose bush has never flowered, now mostly bare stems, what isn’t bare has black spot...but the rootball was quite impressive.

The palm has done nothing since it went in, lost three fronds in spring, lost another as I lifted it, now it has just one!  But again the root system was quite impressive.

Options

1. Put in pot by back doors. Sheltered. Attend to daily.

2. Replant in rich border at the back of garden. Full sun or partial shade. Water weekly. Hope for recovery next spring.

Let me know your thoughts!
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Posts

  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    No expert, but I would prune them all back and go for option 1 in the appropriate soil mix/drainage for each, water them in well. So long as you have roots and some green stems you are in with a good chance. Daily attention probably not essential, twice weekly maybe?
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Fourth option. Bin them and start again.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    the bay is dead. I wouldn't have recognised it if you hadn't named it
    The rose is feeble
    the other thing looks like an indoor plant
    My suggestion - dump them all and get some tough plants


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • gardeninglily1gardeninglily1 Posts: 424
    The rose looks overly thorny - is that a sign that it's suffering somehow? 
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    gardeninglily1 said:
    The rose looks overly thorny - is that a sign that it's suffering somehow? 
    I thought this, but don’t know.

    Is there any chance it needs ericaceous compost rather than normal?

    Ive mulched the area (same area as bay and palm) a few times and added blood fish and bone.

    I don’t water out there as often as the back as it’s a hassle to get the hose round.  I’m hoping for a water butt out front to remedy that next year.
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    Nollie said:
    No expert, but I would prune them all back and go for option 1 in the appropriate soil mix/drainage for each, water them in well. So long as you have roots and some green stems you are in with a good chance. Daily attention probably not essential, twice weekly maybe?
    I’ve trimmed back the bay, found a few green leaves near the base.

    Its probably a goner, but I have space in a border so it’s gone in between the gladioli.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    The rose is the only one that looks as if you might be able to save it. Is it one you particularly like?
    If not, I'm with the dumpers.
    How did they get into that state?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    When you uprooted them did you water them well, let them soak and then dig them up with a rootball or did you just hoik them out?   It does pay to be kind to plants under stress both before and after planting/transplanting/potting.

    I would bin the lot and start again but first improve the soil with copious amounts of compost and well-rotted manure and water it thoroughly before planting anything new in the unloved, unwatered bit of garden.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    B3 said:
    The rose is the only one that looks as if you might be able to save it. Is it one you particularly like?
    If not, I'm with the dumpers.
    How did they get into that state?
    The Garden of Desolation is not renowned for successful planting.

    (Details in posts above)

    Only the plants that were there when I moved in ten years ago seem healthy.  My last effort out there will be to divide the mature spiraea japonica, replant one half six feet away (where the rose and bay suffered). The only plants that succeeded were daffs, a very tall invasive weed with purple flowers I like and, bizarrely, a five foot asparagus.  If the spiraea looks like it’s suffering I’ll switch to containers.
  • karen paulkaren paul Posts: 230
    I think it's worth trying to save them, I don't like giving up on any plant until it's quite obviously dead. The bay looks still alive to me because it's stem is green, the rose - I rescued one from my sister in a worse state and after cutting it right back to near ground level it rejuvenated just fine the next spring; the phoenix palm too I think can recover with some tlc (I would bring that one indoors though when it gets colder and I believe they don't like too much water, I have one in a large well drained pot that comes indoors in winter. The bay and rose I would plant outside in good soil with a good watering at planting time and until established) I would at least offer them to someone else to try if you did just want to replace them with new plants (maybe on the Freecycle website for your area). Good luck.
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