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Skimmia not doing so well.

Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
in Plants
Hi,

My skimmia isn’t doing so well because a lot of the leaves had gone yellow and fallen off. The rest were all nice and green. This is today: 


So I’m still getting previously healthy green leaves turning yellow like this one that only has one yellow leaf left:



Any ideas? Checked soil and it is not dry. Thanks 

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    They do that if I try them, I don't think they like extremely alkaline soil like mine. What's your soil like?


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    If the stone/chippings are limestone, that might have leached into the soil even if it wasn't alkaline to begin with. I don't know whether it would be enough to upset a skimmia, but that's the next thing that springs to mind if it's not too dry at the roots and hasn't been all summer - could be a delayed reaction if it has dried out at some point.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited November 2022
    My neighbour a few doors down has a similar-looking skimmia in the front garden that looks a bit worse every year.
    I said I had some sequesterene which might help and I gave it a dose when I was passing the following day.
    It made no difference. 
    I did some looking on the web and came across an article (RHS I think) that described the problem-
    True that they won't survive in quite alkaline soil.
    But the usual reason for their demise is the texture of the soil they're in.
    They really don't like heavy soil at all - like the Essex clay we have here.
    They're happiest in a light free-draining type of soil - I'd imagine a 50/50 blend of leaf-mould and topsoil would make them happy - or something along those lines i.e. plenty of organic matter to keep the soil loose

    PS - are those Cotswold chips on the top?
    If the are, then they're best removed.
    Rain is slightly acidic and Cotswold chips are limestone, so rainwater will turn the soil underneath alkaline over time - that may be part of the problem

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Alfie_Alfie_ Posts: 456
    Thanks people. Well the Cotswold limestone clippings are new so that may well be the problem! 
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