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Salix all bare
Can someone help by telling me what has happened to my SalIx? I have 10 all but one are okay. I think it was okay and now when I look at it it has no leaves but the leaf spines are there? Can I save it?
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Yep, I reckon. Probably got drier than it wanted to be and as a result, threw all its leaves off in a fit of temper. Stems still look good, though and it's the right time of year to lose leaves, so it should be ok next year.
H-C
Salix need a lot of water and are happiest in damp soil. The soil there looks very dry.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Some kind of caterpillar, perhaps?
The soil does look dry, but if the soil is the same around the other Salix and they are not suffering then it would suggest some problem specific to that plant.
Last edited: 30 September 2016 12:27:59
Thanks - my brother says he did water, however previously it was dry but generally that part of the garden is damp that's why I planted them there.
I have sprayed with Bug Clear Ultra and other plants around.
Hoping it it can be saved and others don't go the same way.
Cat
No point in spraying with Bug Clear - it's not suffering from any infestation and it's indiscriminate - it'll kill all the beneficial insects, bees, lacewings, ladybirds, hoverflies etc that your garden needs
The problem with you salix is most likely to be due to lack of moisture in the soil.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I can see that the ground is cracked around the base of the plant. Probably soggy in winter and spring and baked in summer? Typical of clay soils and occasionally ruinous for plants, especially new plantings. Never fear, chuck a bucket of water on it and look forward to next year. It'll be ok.
H-C
Also, a brother's idea of 'watering' may not be sufficient ... he may have squirted it with a hose pipe for a few minutes from time to time. A salix in soil like that needs at least a bucket full of water at least three times a week in dry spells. Did he do that do you think?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hi Dovefromabove, no I am sure he did not its always a fight to get watered.
Cat ?