Escallonia issues

Posts

• Borderline Posts: 4,700

  July 2019

  Maybe it's the scale of the photo, but I would not recommend planting such a small size Escallonia straight into the ground. Even though they are sold as seaside plants that can deal with wind, they are delicate shrubs when young, and best grown in a pot until they are more bulkier. Then they can be planted out.
  
  Prune out the top sections of the plant, your flowers will need deadheading for a possible second flush. Just looks like excess rain damage. Leaf drop on evergreen shrubs will happen when there is stress such as drought, excess moisture etc.
  
  I suspect your shrub had been grown in a very protected environment which can result in excess growth (lots of lush green leaves), but with very small root system. It is up to you, but I think it is better grown in a container for another year. That way, you can keep it in more free draining soil and care for it better by moving it where necessary. Also, they are not very hardy when they are young. So may need some protection at that size.

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• yorkshirerose Posts: 574

  August 2019

  I agree with Borderline. Your plant does look very young.
  I planted the same variety, (because my Grand-daughter is called Elle) 2 years ago, it was well rooted in a 3litre pot at the time and is now a really healthy plant full of flowers in a sheltered, sunny position in well drained soil in North Yorkshire.
  
  Hope yours pulls through and looks happier after a bit of t.l.c. 

  A gardener's work is never at an end  - (John Evelyn 1620-1706)

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• Blenkiron Posts: 44

  August 2019

  Borderline said:

  Maybe it's the scale of the photo, but I would not recommend planting such a small size Escallonia straight into the ground. Even though they are sold as seaside plants that can deal with wind, they are delicate shrubs when young, and best grown in a pot until they are more bulkier. Then they can be planted out.
  
  Prune out the top sections of the plant, your flowers will need deadheading for a possible second flush. Just looks like excess rain damage. Leaf drop on evergreen shrubs will happen when there is stress such as drought, excess moisture etc.
  
  I suspect your shrub had been grown in a very protected environment which can result in excess growth (lots of lush green leaves), but with very small root system. It is up to you, but I think it is better grown in a container for another year. That way, you can keep it in more free draining soil and care for it better by moving it where necessary. Also, they are not very hardy when they are young. So may need some protection at that size.

  Thankyou for the lengthy reply, gave me good insight and very helpful tips! I’m going to go put it in a pot tonight and trim down the dead parts, yorkshirerose said:

  I agree with Borderline. Your plant does look very young.
  I planted the same variety, (because my Grand-daughter is called Elle) 2 years ago, it was well rooted in a 3litre pot at the time and is now a really healthy plant full of flowers in a sheltered, sunny position in well drained soil in North Yorkshire.
  
  Hope yours pulls through and looks happier after a bit of t.l.c. 

  Hi, that’s how mine was looking up until recently... it seemed to be doing really well up until no, either from the crazy heat and sun we’ve had or from the torrential rain we’ve had.
  
  
  P.s, are escallonia on the food list for and slugs or anything? Some of the leaves seem to have chunks taken from them

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• yorkshirerose Posts: 574

  August 2019

  Could be damage by leaf-cutter bees.

  A gardener's work is never at an end  - (John Evelyn 1620-1706)

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