help and advice needed

Posts

• Borderline Posts: 4,700

  July 2020

  Are they newly planted into the ground? Red tips normally means a plant may be mildly stressed by extreme weather conditions, usually, high winds or cold temperatures. This could be just newly planted shrubs adjusting to real-life conditions that takes some time for them to get acclimatised to.
  
  Many shrubs are grown in controlled conditions so they look picture perfect in the garden centre. But the down side is once planted outside, they can sometimes drop leaves or have leaves damaged due to rain and wind or even cooler night temperatures
  
  You can post a photo of the issue, so others can see what it looks like and offer more advice. They are generally hardy and tough shrubs, so should recover eventually. Take more care with keeping them watered throughout summer so they settle in quicker.

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• Inglezinho Posts: 568

  July 2020

  This has been a very difficult year for getting plants established. First we had an abnormally wet winter then an abnormally dry spring. Exactly the conditions Hypericum does not like. I would try again in the autumn.

  Everyone likes butterflies. Nobody likes caterpillars.

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• Alisamackman Posts: 5

  July 2020

  
  

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• Alisamackman Posts: 5

  July 2020

  Thanks for the advice guys. Above are three photos of what’s going on with my hypericum hidcote hedges. There are new grows on there even though the red edging comes on the bigger leaves. As you can tell, total newbie at growing hedges so any help advice is appreciated. Thanks.

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• Borderline Posts: 4,700

  July 2020

  They look like very young plants, and the tips look like wind scorch to me. I would prune them all back as the branches will be too thin and weak to sustain even the leaves right now. Concentrate on keeping them well watered, especially during the warm and dry periods.
  
  The roots will form over the year and you will eventually have new branches growing from the base. It does look like the shrubs were forced in controlled surroundings and possibly over-fed to create lush top-growth but without a supporting root system. Don't worry about the appearance for now. In time, they will come back stronger once they adapt to your garden conditions.

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• Alisamackman Posts: 5

  July 2020

  Thanks for the information. Should I prune it now and how far back? Don’t want to over prune it if the new shoots are quite low down unless necessary. Did think it looked sparse for foliage when we bought them but as I said, complete novice at this so didn’t know any better. Guess I should have asked a few more questions than I did. Supposedly from a good hedging company online and they weren’t cheap. Hubby made me the box from sleepers, so wanted decent hedging to go in it. 

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• punkdoc Posts: 15,039

  July 2020

  I assume the box they are planted in has good drainage?

  How can you lie there and think of England
  When you don't even know who's in the team
  
  S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border

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• Borderline Posts: 4,700

  July 2020

  Yes you should prune them now. Gives them enough time to recover before the winter time. I would prune them down by at least half to two thirds of the current growth. They are young twigs, it will not harm them. 

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• Mike Allen Posts: 208

  July 2020

  I totally agree with Borderline, a member who has my sincere respect.  If the plants are left too long, they will become weaker and weaker.  Do your best at encouraging fresh new growth at the base.  Once you see improvement, then you can for a time, 'pinch out'  This will encourage side shoots to break forth, thus causing the plants to bush out.
  

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• Alisamackman Posts: 5

  July 2020

  Hi guys. Just wanted to thank you for all your help and show you the beginnings of my hedge now the issues have been sorted. I know where to come next time I need a helping hand. Many thanks

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