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Ivy and surrounding plants dying back with black tips on new growth

Hi there, I've been having problems with several plants in my garden, my Ivy which was once thick and green has died back and has black tips on all new buds, a plant in front of it has the same problem and a once very health 7th Fatsia Japonica has lost 70% of it's leaves and the rest are wilted and light green instead of a healthy looking green.

Any idea of the problem would be very gratefully received.

Steve





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  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    I'm guessing they are frost damaged, especially the Griselinia Littoralis shrub. That can happen when there has been some new growth possibly brought on from some mild weather in February, followed by very cold and windy weather, especially at night. 
  • Ah ok thanks, the only thing I'm puzzled by is why the black bits only started appearing a week or so ago. It actually appears to be affecting quite a lot of plants. I've just been tidying the garden up and a fair few show the same traits.
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    edited April 2019
    I can't comment on some of your other plants, but frost damage some plants in different ways and they don't always look end up with visible symptoms straight away. If you are concerned, please post some more photos of your other plants like the Fatsia Japonica.

    I had a shrub that recently had issues too, and all the top growth slowly started to turn matted and dull when it should be glossy, and the branches were brittle. On further inspection, all of the first 6 inches of the branches had started to die back. The tips were all shrivelled and curled. I had to prune it back quite severely because I know it is not really hardy, and delaying this will result in death.

    The difference in day and night temperatures can cause issues like this. Freezing temperatures at night followed by rapid heat of the day, and in my case lots of wind added in, most plants may find that tough. Let's see if others have different opinions.
  • Hi there yes thanks again for the response. Here is a pic of the before and a few of the after. Plus one other of the Ivy which is losing it's leaves in places.






  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    Thanks for posting some more images of your overall area. There are a number of things that may have caused the yellowing and leaf drop on your Fatsia Japonica. Even in the 'better' photo, I note your Fatsia Japonica looking quite yellow.

    What is the soil like in your garden and how many hours of sun does that corner get? It could be too much sun and also the soil either compacted and the roots of your shrub is failing to get any nutrition due to waterlogging and then possible drought. The two extremes are enough to stress it to the point of looking sickly and yellow. The drooping and brown leaves are common from cold damage. They are sensitive plants and often look dreadful after a long spell of cold weather, but once it starts to warm up, they normally pick up and recover. This can take weeks. But it looks to me this has not happened which leads me to back to growing conditions. Same with the Ivy.

    I do still feel the original photos are un-related to what the second set of photos show. The second set of photos tell me there is something going on with your soil. There was a very long period of dry weather last year, your garden may have suffered from that, and it can take more than 6 months for signs to show on evergreen plants. Both plants do better in moist soil conditions, so that could be the link.


  • Steve WebbSteve Webb Posts: 29
    edited April 2019
    Great thanks for the reply again. Yes that corner does get a lot of sun so maybe that isn't helping. I bought the house 3 years ago from a very keen gardener. I am still learning.

    That area of the garden is called the sun area which I suppose gives the game away and as can be seen is covered by gravel. I might brush some of the gravel back and see what the ground is like and maybe loosen it up a bit and add some food for the plant. 

    I forgot to mention that the beds near the Ivy has suffered from Moles. Luckily they haven't come up in the lawn but my neighbour said they have in his in the past. The bed have various places where you can tell something underneath is disturbing the ground and a couple of holes also. I've also noticed field mice using some holes, I live at the back of a field. I wonder if this has been having some effect on the root systems ?

    What kind of food do you think I should give the Fatsia Japonica ? Also as some of the branches have no leaves now should I leave these or cut them back ?

    One last thing, tonight I got my hose out and gave the area near the ivy and the 
    Fatsia Japonica a good dose of water as the neighbour mentioned he thought the ground in his garden was very dry not far down under the surface.

    Thanks again

    Steve
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Fatsias need a  lot of moisture, and quite rich soil to do well. They're ok in some sun as long as there's sufficient moisture for them. I think the ivy is removing most of the moisture. Unless you have good regular rainfall, it'll continue to struggle. The dry spell last year may have contributed quite a lot to that. Cut it back and water thoroughly for the next few weeks.
    It may be too late, but you have nothing to lose, as it's certainly not thriving at the moment. Frost will knock new growth back, but they're actually very tough, and the dmaged growth can be pruned off and it will just grow more shoots as weather improves. We've recently had almost a week of frosts, but my Fatsia is fine. It survives all sorts.  :)
    Mice won't harm it, but the moles could certainly be a problem.
    Ivy will take advantage of any available nutrients and moisture. Nothing much fazes it, so it might be worth hacking it back a little to give other planting a chance too.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Great thanks for the response Fairgirl :smile:

    In the last few days I've started watering around the Fatsias at dusk, a few gallons of water and a touch of feeder in it. Hopefully after a few weeks this will help.

    As for the Ivy I did cut it back over winter and I was worried this may have caused a problem but I suspect not. Last night I got the sprinkler on the flower beds and really soaked the ground around the base of the Ivy. I hope this will help it pick up.

    Thanks

    Steve
  • Steve WebbSteve Webb Posts: 29
    edited April 2019
    Hi there, I decided to spray some water tonight again and I noticed hundreds of these flying off the Ivy. Any idea's what they are and if they can cause issues ? It's about 2mm maybe 3mm long.


  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    All good advice from Fairygirl. You can also prune down the Fatsia too. I don't feed plants much, especially shrubs unless it is absolutely necessary. Judging by your shrubs, I think water and care in the soil (adding in more mulch or compost) is the priority. 

    Don't worry too much about white flies. They can be blasted out when you hose down the leaves. At this time of year, when everything is starting to grow, aphids and white flies will feed off the leaves. 
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