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Green shrubs turned black

dalewoodward74dalewoodward74 Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Would welcome any advice on why this has happened and whether it can be cured.  Th picture shows the same shrubs yet some have turned black
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  • dalewoodward74dalewoodward74 Posts: 4

  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    Your shrub is a Hebe.
    Couple of questions.
    When did you notice this happening, had it been a slow progression or a quick browning?

    Do you have a dog?
    Or visiting foxes, not sure if a spraying cat could do that much wide spread damage.

    Have you checked to see if the branches underneath are damaged or broken.

    We saw some damage like that with the big freeze easterly beast. The only hebe we have was okay but a garden up the road got hit, a grey leaved one like yours in a wet garden.
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    @pansyface . I was just thinking back to our one, the original old one did the same after I had trimmed some off hoping to regenerate it. I took cuttings which Dale could also do in case it decides to be totally mysterious and go completely.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Hello @dalewoodward74, welcome to the forum. As Ruby says, this is a hebe and the left hand side is dead. I can't make out if it's all one plant or two. If it's been like that for a while, l think the Beast from the East could be the culprit, but l have had some that are going along quite happily and then decide they've had enough. Look on it as a new planting opportunity!  :)  
  • dalewoodward74dalewoodward74 Posts: 4
    Thanks all, it happened suddenly, I do have dogs but they don’t get to these on the front garden path.  The same has happened on the neighbours side.  Looks like they’ll have to be replaced then.  At least I know what they are called now 😂
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    They are lovely shrubs, but they don't take kindly to being pruned and they are not 100% hardy, if you get hard frosts or bad winters, so it is possible you might find something else more suitable for your needs.
  • dalewoodward74dalewoodward74 Posts: 4
    Thank you, any recommendations? 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Is it sunny location, what's the soil like ? Does it dry out easily ? Any info you can give will help with suggestions.  :)
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    There is a small Pieris called 'Little Heath' that has similar size leaves, prettily variegated, white flowers in spring, followed by red new shoots, Completely hardy, but does need acid soil/ericaceous compost.
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    Your shrub is not all dead. Part has died back and unfortunately quite common. They can bounce back if you prune them back, but not too harshly. Since it is a large patch, you can cut it back next year, and the other areas will grow over that.


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