Plant Curling Up And Dying?

MTB79 · July 2021

Hi,
I bought this plant/bush last summer (I cannot remember what it was!). This spring it started to really grow, then suddenly two weeks ago some of it started curling, looks like it has totally dried out and wilted so I cut off the unhealthy bits and then some. But now it's spreading further and almost all of it is affected, do you have any idea what it could be causing it?

Thanks!

Obelixx · July 2021

It looks stressed. Have you watered it? There was a long, hot period last summer and then a cold, dry April just when plants are pushing to grow and needing moisture so lots of plants are stressed like this.

I would cut back that grass and clear any weeds and grass under the shrub canopy to reduce competition then lightly loosen the soil with a hand fork. Give it a long, slow drink of at least 15 litres every other day for a couple of weeks to make sure its roots are well moistened. Pour it slowly so it soaks in rather than running off. The aim is to encourage good root formation deep down rather than up at the surface where they will fry in dry spells and not be able to maintain the plant.

You could then add a mulch to help retain moisture thru the rest of summer - assuming the plant picks up. Keep it watered during future hot and dry spells and then it should be fine thru autumn and next winter.

Pete.8 · July 2021

Just an alternative thought...
Could it be a fox having a wee on it?
Though I'd imagine you would be able to smell it from some distance

MTB79 · July 2021

Yes, regularly watered and is fed once a week.

Its similar to what happened to my buxus when they got box blight. The thing is two weeks ago it looked really healthy and looked like it was about to flower, then one side started dying off and it's slowly creeping back to the other side of the bush now. I did wonder if dogs or cats had been using it as a marking post.

Borderline · July 2021

Any chance you could take a photo of the leaves or buds? It's too far to see what it is. It looks a bit like a Daisy Bush, Olearia Traversii/Haastii. They are sometimes sensitive to cold weather. They also need quite free draining soil and prefer not to be in shade or damp heavy soils.

MTB79 · July 2021

Borderline said:

Any chance you could take a photo of the leaves or buds? It's too far to see what it is. It looks a bit like a Daisy Bush, Olearia Traversii/Haastii. They are sometimes sensitive to cold weather. They also need quite free draining soil and prefer not to be in shade or damp heavy soils.

Here is a close up, I remember it saying it was suited to coastal areas as it didn't mind wind or harsh conditions. Like I say, it was thriving 2 weeks ago.

Borderline · July 2021

Thanks for the extra photos. It does look like the Daisy bush, most likely Olearia x Haastii. What type of weather have you had recently. It could be rain/storm damage. It could also be a reaction to sudden changes in weather. Example warm spell followed by sudden cold nights or cold and windy conditions.

These shrubs are indeed tough with wind and exposed areas, but they are not very hardy in colder parts of the UK. They also need fairly free draining soil in open sunny areas. Looking at your original photos, the soil looks quite rich and damp looking. If your soil is heavy and damp, I would look to adding more grit into the area to keep the surface dry and aid drainage.

MTB79 · July 2021

A few weeks later and it has completely died. This is frustrating as this is the third plant to have died out of the blue after looking healthy in this position in the last 4 years. I dug it up and the roots look ok, the soil wasn't heavy or wet but it was riddled with white thread fungi, I pulled up a couple of weeds that has grown near it and their roots too were riddled with it. I have put pictures below, could this be a cause?

Liriodendron · July 2021

I'm by no means an expert, but I doubt whether the thread-like fungus is to blame. Fungal threads like that are common in humus-rich soil, and are important in breaking down the organic matter. Of course, there are nasty fungi as well - I have honey fungus in my front garden - but I haven't encountered one which looks like that.

I'd go with an animal marking its territory, particularly if, as you say, it's the third plant in the same place to have died...

Fairygirl · July 2021

I'm inclined to agree with @Liriodendron, especially given the location. Possibly feline rather than fox.
Constantly feeding isn't a great idea though, especially when a plant is struggling. That can make it even harder for it to thrive, which may seem odd. Shrubs really don't need it after the initial planting. An occasional addition of organic matter - compost, leaf mould, etc - is all that's required to keep the soil in good condition. The soil doesn't look particularly brilliant, so that would help anyway

Liriodendron · July 2021

I wonder if @MTB79 has a wildlife camera? Could reveal the culprit if there is one...

I'm assuming there isn't a strange smell in the area. A neighbour of mine in Northumberland a while back, found she could grow nothing in a small part of her garden. It turned out that a former owner had used diesel to kill ground elder, which had poisoned the soil there. You could still smell it.

If sodium chlorate has been used some time in the past, to kill weeds in the drive next to your Olearia, it could have leached into the soil and poisoned later plantings.

It's just guesswork, I'm afraid...

Plant Curling Up And Dying?

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