Autumn come early or mystery disease?
Brearscaine
Posts: 4
Hi there,
I'm very concerned about several of our mature trees and shrubs as they appear to be dying. I have looked at their bark, around the base etc but can't detect any fungus or see any strange beetles, bore holes etc. The leaves are not eaten just turning brown/yellow. Seems a strange coincidence that different species of trees are suffering at the same time, or are they merely in need of lots of water?!
We live near the coast in W. Sussex, so have had a fairly dry spring and summer but didn't think lack of water would affect mature trees?
The trees in question are surrounded by healthy specimens and not near each other. None of them have been pruned for the last 2 years … we weren't in the house before that so don't know any longer term history.
The trees are: Silver Birch and Mimosa, also an evergreen Jasmine has died, a Camelia shrub flowered in winter but now all leaves are brown and dry (still on the plant though) and an Oregon Grape is now showing signs of yellowing leaves.
Any help much appreciated!!!
Thank you.
Posts
Hi Brearscaine
I live in w sussex and the trees near us have shed some of their leaves, On the way to work this morning I noticed that there were quite a lot of leaves blowing around. Might be because of the very warm and muggy weather recently.The trees still looked healthy though
Jolly G
Thanks Jolly G - hopefully just a result of the weather and they will bounce back.
Here's some photos in case it sparks any other ideas ...
My birches haven't done that this year. It's been dry but not hot so they've been OK, but I've seen them like it every hot and dry year since I planted them. I lost some when they were young but the ones that survived are still going strong around 20 years later.
The mahonia looks a bit depressed in hot and dry as well. I don't grow the others
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thank you! Optimistic that they will survive then. I'd better get watering!
Camellias don't like being dried out, especially at this time of year when they start to form their new buds for spring. If yours is in bad condition it might be worth pruning it back and giving it plenty of water and a mulch. You'll sacrifice next year's flowers but better than losing the whole shrub.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you, much appreciated.