Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Something seriously wrong with these plants?

adamadamantadamadamant Posts: 278
in Problem solving
Hi my Daphne Odora started to show signs of stress about 6 weeks ago.  I fed it and made sure it was watered but figured it was on the way out as it is about 20 years old and I heard that they weren't particularly long lived, and last year's drought might have stressed it further.

Back from a two week holiday and the daphne has definitely popped its clogs, but I also noticed the berberis behind it has started on one side to drop its leaves and looks pretty dreadful. The whole area looks a mess.  Half the berberis is fine apart from a bit of mildew, so I'm now wondering if there is something more serious going on.  I cant see any particular signs of pests but can anyone give me some advice what I could look for.

1st pic shows the dead daphne with some healthy berberis behind, second pic (sorry I know it's a bit poor) shows the berberis with denuded stems.  Third the OK berberis leaves apart from the mildew.

Thanks, hope you can advise me

≈


Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I wonder if someone has been a bit careless with spraying weedkiller? 
    The only other thing l can think of is that the berberis has become stressed also due to lack of water and is dying back gradually. 

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    My Daphne did exactly the same this year.
    Devon.
  • adamadamantadamadamant Posts: 278
    thanks AnniD, there hasnt been any weedkiller around, but I agree the berberis might be stressed, thats possible. Thanks for your input.
    And Hostafan1 - sorry to hear that, but maybe it was the drought after all.  Thanks. Lets see if anyone else has any bright ideas.  My bright idea is a new Daphne for my birthday! 
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    The berberis looks as though it has powdery mildew.
    I see you have another post asking about the kerria spreading rust to the other plants. It could be your kerria has blight and that shouldn't make a difference to the berberis and daphne.

  • adamadamantadamadamant Posts: 278
    Got it, thanks 

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    adamadamant said:
    thanks AnniD, there hasnt been any weedkiller around, but I agree the berberis might be stressed, thats possible. Thanks for your input.
    And Hostafan1 - sorry to hear that, but maybe it was the drought after all.  Thanks. Lets see if anyone else has any bright ideas.  My bright idea is a new Daphne for my birthday! 
    It wasn't drought here, immediately after it flowered it started to keel over. No drought here in Devon.
    Devon.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Cut through one of the dead main stems and see if you can find any staining of the wood which could indicate verticillium wilt (to which daphnes are susceptible.)

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • adamadamantadamadamant Posts: 278
    Thanks will do
Sign In or Register to comment.