This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
phytophthora root rot
Maria Alford
Posts: 4
My Vibrunum Tinnus looks like it could be dying. I am devastated as it is old and a great architectural shape in the forefront of my garden. Having looked at what could be wrong, it seems that phytophora root rot could be the problem. It started to look unhealthy last summer, but this spring it flowered really well. However, as the flowers finished nearly all the leaves are turning yellow and there is little or no sign of new leaves. Firstly, can I salvage my lovely plant? If not, what action do I need to take now?
I have a photinia at the other end of the garden that was looking close to death, but new leaves have appeared recently, so I am reluctant to act quickly, if there is a chance of recovery. Any advice would be very welcome.
0
Posts
Are you on clay soil Maria? If you are the past wet winter will only worsen any rot present. There is no cure for phytopthora. The only thing you can really do is to drastically improve the drainage with plenty of grit and sharp sand.
If it is phytopthora, you'll need to dig up and burn any affected shrubs and replace the topsoil as there is no chemical control. You'd need to replant with a shrub which isn't affected by the fungus.
Thanks, Dave. Yes, some clay in my soil, although drainage is quite good. I will add some grit, as you advised, and see how it goes for a little while. Fingers crossed that it isn't root rot!
It's so nasty, I really hope that I'm wrong about it!