Cotoneaster Dammeri Damage/Dying??

Hi Everyone
Over the last 4 weeks my carpet of cotoneaster dammeri has died back. It's lost its leaves leaving just the branches remaining, however, the hebe's remain unaffected. I have 3 sections of cotoneaster and so far only 2 sections are affected. I've attached pictures of the damaged/dying foliage and also close up's of the branches before and after doing a scraping of the bark....... I've read up about Fireblight and Honey Fungus so as you can appreciate I'm a little worried.......... Can anyone help in diagnosing what is wrong?????

Thanks in advance!!

 

I think it's a bit early in the year to be fireblight, however given recent weather conditions anything is possible. By the way where abouts are you and what sort of soil have you got?
I see that C dammeri originates from Hubei, but I think coronavirus can be ruled out.

 

I'm in St Neots, Cambridge...... The cotoneaster has been in for about 5 years, when it was planted we had tonnes of top soil and bark mulch shipped in and it took off really well.... Its literally in the last 6 weeks (off which we were away for 3 weeks) that it's happened. I'm really stumped???? Coronavirus is a possibility as we've just come back from Maldives where the occupancy was 85% Chinese

 

It could be caused by a phytophora type fungus. I would remove the dead bits cutting back to healthy growth, remove any dead roots and keep an eye out for any white fungal growth on these. Hopefully with the return of warmer longer days it will start to grow from the still healthy bits.

 

Thanks for that - I'll keep a close eye on it and post an update in a month or so!

 

Hi Zoe. Just as Nigel says. It could be simply just one of those things. Time will tell. Personally I'd be inclined to wait and see. Cotoneaster is a tough one and can withstand many disasters. It can be cut back to the main stem and it will usually return, often to a better standard than before. Leave it until the season advances and everything around starts breaking into leaf. Then take your time and follow Nigel's tip of cutting back to live wood.

 

Thanks Mike - I've decided to wait and see what happens..... will update in a few months time, so watch this space!!