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Shrubs dying help

samantha.elaine.jonessamantha.elaine.jones Posts: 11
in Problem solving
Hi! I’ve noticed a few of my shrubs have turned rust coloured or look unhealthy, although they’ve been fine for years until recently. Would anyone be able to suggest what this may be?

I’m a very novice gardener so any help is appreciated.
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Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Is it a type of cotoneaster ? 
  • samantha.elaine.jonessamantha.elaine.jones Posts: 11
    No, this is a rhododendron, but it has affected a couple of my other shrubs too, turning them rusty. Theres so many possibilities when I've googled, 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Must admit l'm stumped, but l'm sure someone will know. 
    The only thing l could think of was that maybe someone has been spraying weedkiller, but that really is a total guess.
    Hope you get the answer  :)
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    How much water have you been giving them?
  • samantha.elaine.jonessamantha.elaine.jones Posts: 11
    Just the average amount, I have rhododendron and similar shrubs on the other side other garden, same conditions, which are unaffected. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If that's a rhodo in that wee terracotta pot, it'll be so dry it'll struggle to survive, if it's still alive. Terracotta is really hopeless for shrubs like that, because it soaks up moisture. Shrubs in pots need decent soil - not compost - and if they get dried out, you have to thoroughly rehydrate by soaking them in a bigger container until all bubbles disappear. If you don't have a big container, you can use a tray of some kind. Water, then wait until it's all been taken up, then repeat until the contents are thoroughly dampened. Then repot correctly if you can't plant in the ground for some reason.
    Get it in the shade to prevent it drying out rapidly, and don't let it go short of water. It'll need watered every couple of days, regardless of what rainfall you get.  :)
    If the plant in the first pic has the same growing conditions, you'd need to do the same with it.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    It has been a much drier than average year though, and your plants may find conditions there slightly different from the other side of the garden. More sun, more competition, more or less shelter from  rainfall or drying winds, more or less retentive soil etc. All these little things can add up and mean one side needs much more water than the other without it being immediately obvious. It can do no harm to see what a more generous amount of water might do to help at least those plants that are not too far gone. Pour the water slowly over the root area so it has time to soak in, as very dry soil can be water repellent at first, so that most of it runs off without doing any good.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    It would be very unusual for both sides of the garden to have similar conditions ... one side will face north and the other south .... or one east and the other west ...  :)

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





  • samantha.elaine.jonessamantha.elaine.jones Posts: 11
    This is true, we have a south east facing garden so one gets more shade, but along the sunny side we have trees and a huge buddleia which gives the shrubs I have in pots on the shady side similar sunlight exposure 
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Try lots of water and see if there are signs of recovery.If not don’t know what to suggest 
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