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.

Plants dying

moirabucklemoirabuckle Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Can  anyone suggest why a number of previously well established plants appear to be dying in my garden.  Leaves of a number of shrubs have turned brown.  Initially this was restricted to two Hypericum and a Red Robin but now a bay tree which I have had for over 10 years and a eucalyptus look as though they are going the same way. We have not changed any of the products we use and generally avoid the use of chemicals in the garden. The affected plants are in different areas of our garden and for now plants next to them appear unaffected. We live in a rural area with fields on two sides of our garden. 
«1

Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Would there have been any kind of spraying on the fields?  Wondering if it's to do with "wind drift" of a weedkiller or something. 
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Would spraying be done this time of the year? It is strange though that the plants are in different parts of the garden.
    We have had some very established shrubs/trees deciding to give up over the last year. They have been in our garden for many years so we have thought that their life span has come to an end.
    Could this be the same with your plants?
  • moirabucklemoirabuckle Posts: 4
    Not aware of any recent spraying but perhaps I should try to contact the farmer. There is no sign of any disease elsewhere. As these are all evergreen plants do you think the problem could have got into the plants through their leaves?
  • Bee witchedBee witched Posts: 1,295
    Hi @moirabuckle,

    It could be honey fungus .... some info. here:-
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/garden-health/disease/Honey-fungus

    Bee x
    Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders  

    A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
  • shane.farrellshane.farrell Posts: 207
    Delayed effect of frost?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited March 2021
    shane.farrell said:
    Delayed effect of frost?
    That’s my first thought. I can’t think of any agricultural spraying that’s done over winter. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    Can you list some more plants/shrubs? As mentioned, frost and harsh wind mixed with heavy down-pours are a recipe for disaster for some evergreen shrubs. Photinias and Eucalyptus are very susceptible to damage leaves or die back. There has been prolonged cold nights, then lots of wet weather in between. Shrubs that need free draining soils tend to suffer more.
  • moirabucklemoirabuckle Posts: 4
    Thanks. Other plants that appear unaffected are crab apple, flowering currant, fruit bushes and trees, Weigela, Cistus, Choisya, Potentilla, Exochorda, Euphorbia and various herbaceous plants.  If it is frost damage might these plants recover or should I dig them out?  
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    edited March 2021
    I’ve lost a few plants with this last frost and frozen ground,  I’d had vinca here fo 30 years, given loads away, had to cut it back,  but this year,  now, it’s dead. 

    The top buds on the hydrangeas are black, that’s why I don’t cut them back until April  now. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    Thanks for listing the other plants. It does seem like your shrubs have suffered from frost damage. I suspect it didn't help with all the heavy rainfall so far. Even in the middle of March, you should wait and see whether they show signs or growth. There's still forecast cold weather all next week. I recommend pruning out dead bits from beginning of April. 
Sign In or Register to comment.