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Evergreen Shrub deterioration

Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145
in Problem solving
We have one particular architectural shrub that is really suffering as you can see from the attached pictures. It’s not been happy all year in a variety of climatic conditions. It was quite healthy. It did previously have a large, but dying, conifer alongside it which gave it cover from the sun which is ever present in the garden. We had to take this out 18 months ago. Could this be the issue, that the shrub would be happier in shade / partial shade? 

I’m guessing it’s beyond moving. It’s looking quite unsightly now, so considering taking it out but will persevere if it has a chance of recovery. Is there anything I can do that might help it along? Thanks


Posts

  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145
    Bumping. Was hoping the knowledgeable forum might be able to provide some thoughts…thanks 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Dave Humby I looked at your photos when you first posted but I am unable to help.
    I assume you don't know what it is and I am unsure. If it is more exotic perhaps @greatnorthernexotic might be around they kindly helped out the other day. My instincts are it wouldn't thrive in Notts clay.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It looks like a very unhappy rhododendron. 
    Yes - shade and regular moisture is what they need to thrive best, unless you're in a cooler damper environment when they don't mind some sun, depending on type etc.
    I'm guessing you don't have those conditions though. 
    You could cut it back a bit, and add lots of organic matter, and see that it doesn't go short of water, but whether that'll be enough is impossible to say. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited September 2023
    The leaves don't look very rhododendron like to me but they do vary. I have never grown them but recall them years ago in a local park lots of trees for shade, they had been there for many years. One summer a few years ago they were all taken out, dozens of large plants.
    Everyone of them had suffered with drought and it was decided to plant with other things. Still a beautiful place but the 'landscape' is now very different.
    Today you sometimes see them in gardens locally but over the course of the last ten years they have slowly disappeared victims to a changing climate. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    It looks a bit like a loquat to me (Eriobotrya). Have a look at this and see what you think: https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/loquat-tree/ 
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145
    Thank you for your help. @LG_ I think you could well be right with the Loquat ID although we’ve not seen any signs of fruit on the tree in our 2.5yrs here. Growing conditions and location suggest the tree is in a good site so maybe it’s just feeling sorry for itself for whatever reason. Will persevere with it and add some fertiliser at the right time as suggested on the link you provided. Thanks again to all for their inputs. 
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited September 2023
    I am not familiar with Loquat.  My first thoughts was large-leaved rhododendron.  That certainlty wouldn't lke the sudden arival odf full sun.

    Once it'shappy again, fertlliise.  But not before.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • greatnorthernexoticgreatnorthernexotic Posts: 119
    GardenerSuze said:
    @Dave Humby I looked at your photos when you first posted but I am unable to help.
    I assume you don't know what it is and I am unsure. If it is more exotic perhaps @greatnorthernexotic might be around they kindly helped out the other day. My instincts are it wouldn't thrive in Notts clay.
    Yes always happy to help with exotics / tropicals questions where I can. I'd agree with previous posters that this looks like a loquat tree (eriobotrya). They're quite hardy (to -12oC) although the don't thrive too well below -3oC. I'd guess that it struggled with the low temperatures last December. My guess would be that in removing the conifer it'll suffer from increased exposure to frosts come wintertime.

    Did it flower this year?
    Growing tropical and desert plants outdoors in West Yorkshire
    INSTAGRAM/ YOUTUBE
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @DaveHumby Yes I have heard of a loquat but that is as far as my knowledge goes.
    Good Luck, it's not looking good but I hope you can save it.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That seems a likely candidate - the Loquat. Not a tree/shrub I have experience of. Looking at various sites, I don't think it would like my conditions, especially in a proper winter, unlike the two recent mild ones. 
    I hope it recovers for you @Dave Humby  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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