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'Gilt edge' dying

ollieeejollieeej Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi all
We have a number of Elaeagnus x ebbingei 'Gilt Edge' plants outside our house which were recently planted by the housing developers (new build property). However, half of them have gone all yellow, not yellow around the edges like they're supposed to, but yellow and dry as in..dead! I've been watering them and feeding them ever since they started to looking a bit worse for wear but unfortunately it hasn't made any difference at all.
Does anyone know how I can bring them back to life? Or are they gone? I thought they were quite hardy plants so im surprised they have died already!
Thanks in advance

Posts

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    edited July 2020
    I don't suppose the developers took much care over how they planted them, or the weather conditions at the time or the watering in. The chances are the poor things have just been bunged in a hole anyhow and left to get on with it.
    Your watering may have helped some, but they probably needed far more than you realised, especially if it has been as hot and dry where you are as it has here. If you are able to increase the water it may save some of them, but it might make more sense to concentrate on the ones that look a bit better as they will be stronger plants  than the strugglers in the end and will likely grow to fill the space.
  • ollieeejollieeej Posts: 2
    Buttercupdays said:
    I don't suppose the developers took much care over how they planted them, or the weather conditions at the time or the watering in. The chances are the poor things have just been bunged in a hole anyhow and left to get on with it.
    Your watering may have helped some, but they probably needed far more than you realised, especially if it has been as hot and dry where you are as it has here. If you are able to increase the water it may save some of them, but it might make more sense to concentrate on the ones that look a bit better as they will be stronger plants  than the strugglers in the end and will likely grow to fill the space.
    Thanks for the reply! Yes I think they were just stuck in a hole, theres certainly no topsoil and whilst they have now put mulch around them, I understand there was none for a few weeks. Do you think it would be worth cutting off the branches that look dead and making sure I water them thoroughly for a few weeks? I'm a bit reluctant because it will leave quite a lot of empty space between them but if theres a chance they will recover then it's probably worthwhile I think.
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    If you can post a photo of them, that may help to see. Maybe a photo of the base to see what it looks like. They are tough plants, but only once they have established. The larger the shrub size, the harder it will be for them to settle in, so it depends on the size and level of deterioration. 

    Watering often in small amounts will not help shrubs settle in. They may even encourage the shrubs to keep their roots shallow which will not help. They often need 2-3 bucketfuls per shrub at 2-3 times per week if the weather is warm.
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