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Diseased bush plant?!

Phil232Phil232 Posts: 9
in Problem solving
Hello all, if anyone could give me some advice as to what is happening with some of my bushes, I'd really appreciate it. 

The first two pictures are of the same bush, the third and fourth pictures are two separate bushes.

Thank you in advance.








Posts

  • Phil232Phil232 Posts: 9
    If anyone could comment, I'd greatly appreciate it.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    I don't know how you've been missed, but the forum has been a bit quiet lately. I was away for 3 days and  when I got back, I was able to pick up on the page I  had left instead of being pages behind!
    My guess  for the state of your shrubs would be that it is the weather we have had this year. A mix of effects from drought, heat stress and sun and/or wind burn. There may be a touch of powdery mildew there too, but that is  also a response to dryness and stress. They look awful now, but there is green foliage too, so make sure they have plenty of water for the moment and trim off the worst looking bits. The top shrub looks like snowberry to me, and that can be cut down to the ground and will still bounce back. It's practically unkillable!
    They should look fine come spring :)
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    Agree with the comments above. You have a lot of jumbled plants that really need pruning back so they can all rejuvenate. A combination of powdery mildew and possible fungal infection brought on by weak dried plants and excess decaying branches will cause leaf damage seen.

    I think your last few photos might be some type of Spiraea. All the shrubs you have there will respond well to a prune back to keep excess growth from getting tired and straggly. Spiraeas do need a prune back after flowers have faded to keep them flowering well and keep them getting into a tangled mass of weak sticks.
  • Phil232Phil232 Posts: 9
    Thak you for the replies, and sorry for getting back to you 2 years later.

    Well, the problem still persists and I've lost s small section of hedge next to the fence.  It seems to be stable for a while, but has started to spread a little bit.  Really, really do not want to loose bushes!

    I have been a bit negligent with pruning, but I am wondering if this is some sort of disease.

    Any advice much appreciated.

    I've attached a couple of recent photos of the worst examples...






  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    My thoughts are that it is either fungal or bacterial. It is possible that it is over wintering in the soil. Clearing all the fallen leaves could help then apply a thick mulch at the base of the shrubs. If you are in the RHS you could try their plant pathology dept for a ID sometimes that it the only way to determine the cause under a microscope.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Phil232Phil232 Posts: 9
    GardenerSuze said:
    My thoughts are that it is either fungal or bacterial. It is possible that it is over wintering in the soil. Clearing all the fallen leaves could help then apply a thick mulch at the base of the shrubs. If you are in the RHS you could try their plant pathology dept for a ID sometimes that it the only way to determine the cause under a microscope.

    I've only just noticed that I'd received a reply, thank you.

    I'll try laying mulch at the base, and clearing fallen leaves.  If I understand you correctly, I could contact the RHS and send off a soil sample.

    What's the worse case scenario?  Is it possible I would have to
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Phil232 It is the leaves themselves that the RHS would need to see. You will need to have a membership to use this service and I am assuming it is still available.
    Some insects do over winter in the soil and return the following year as part of their lifecycle to ravage plants the following year. Clearing old leaves and applying a mulch can help but may not be the answer. I do think you have more than one problem. The previous comments made by @Borderline and @Buttercupdays are well worth following.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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