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Viburnum Bodnantense Dawn Help

welshcakewelshcake Posts: 118
in Problem solving
Hello all, could I get some advice about this Viburnum?  I bought/planted it about a month ago and it's been doing well until I noticed it like these photos a few days ago.  To be honest, I have neglected watering it as it's in an area I don't see day to day and with established shrubs/trees that I don't usually have to water.  I thought first of all, it just may be a drought reaction but I wanted to check because some of the branches still look really healthy, it's only a few on one side that have wilted.  I've given it water and will keep it moist through this upcoming dry spell but is that enough or is there something more going on and I need to treat a disease?  Thanks

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    edited July 2022
    I found this on the internet.
    Botryosphaeria canker is a fungal disease that causes leaves, even entire branches, to wilt and die. Scraping back the bark on infected branches will often reveal dark brown wood. Canker tends to attack shrubs that are suffering from drought stress, so keep your viburnum well-irrigated during dry weather.

     I think I would cut out the dead bit and keep the rest well watered. I've got a huge old one, and I never water it, and my only problem is keeping it within bounds, but the first year while they get established could be tricky same as most shrubs.   Take some photos to show the supplier and maybe ask if any one else has had problems. They may have had a diseased batch.

  • welshcakewelshcake Posts: 118
    Thanks @fidgetbones.  That was my worry as well.  I've just scraped back a bit of bark on both the wilted branches and the good news is that it's green underneath.  So hopefully, it's just wilted from the under watering and it will make a fully recovery!  I've given it a good water this morning and will keep an eye on it over the summer to make sure the soil is not drying out.

    Great to know that your established one doesn't need much attention....other than pruning!  That was my hope for it over time as it's in an area that isn't reachable by the hose so it's a bit more effort to water :)  Good suggestion to let the nursery know if it does develop into canker.

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @welshcake You mention pruning. So many people prune this shrub by removing the top branches and flowers. After flowering it needs to be pruned at the base and thinned.
    I have seen them without flowers and I think pruning wrongly could be why.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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