Problem Skimmia - What to do

My Skimmia often looks like that, I think it is quite common in these plants. I give mine seaweed extract and it does seem to improve it.

 

A trip to the North Devon beaches with a bucket and you can collect your own seaweed mulch. I seem to remember loads of the stuff being washed up! A quick rinse will remove the salt.
Failing that, I use the cheapest products I can find....poundshop stuff is ok, or local supermarkets when they have a sale at the end of the season

 

What I actually did in the end (just done it in fact) was one handful of Growmore mixed in with the mulch for an instant boost and also 1 capful (about 50g) of slow release miracle grow (with micro nutrients) so that when it warms up there will be a constant background feed as this only works above a certain temperature. That should be good for 6 months and then (as I will have used the growmore and Miracle grow up on my other plants and shrubs) I can start on the seaweed if you think the seaweed will be too much on top of those right now.

I was just using what I had to hand (20kg tub of Growmore and 1Kg tub of slow release prills) but I'm definately getting some of the liquid seaweed going forward as the tubs of growmore are very bulky.

I like the slow release as I can get 5 tubs and blitz the whole garden and my pots and then not worry for 6 months - bit pricey mind!!

 

Ha Ha. that did occur to me but the seaweed around the shoreline tends to be a bit stinky and if everyone did it there would be none left I guess

 

Hold off with the seaweed for about 6 weeks.
Hope it revives for you

 

I mean the wash ups on the beach, not go pruning the shoreline!

 

Ha Ha.... that stuff stinks and its full of creatures!!

 

I would go easy on the fertilizer though seaweed is good, just give a weak solution, and just prune back the dead bits then put a thick mulch on. If you go to the beach take a couple of buckets and get some seaweed and put that on. Wash of the salt first though.

 

They really don't need particularly acidic soil, but if there's a lot of competition around, and the soil is then drier long term. they don't appreciate that. Shade is also better for them. They get bleached too much in sunny sites.
Better to feed the soil than add additional food when it's struggling. Bark and/or leaf mould are ideal, but any organic matter is fine to help with moisture retention and general soil improvement. Once it's doing better, you can use a seaweed feed or similar as a boost for the foliage.

Even in ideal conditions, they can get some yellowing leaves though.

 

Many thanks for that. Truth be told I think it is in a poor location in an inherited garden so I think you have hit the nail on the head. I will keep up with other posters' advice on mulch, watering and feed etc. to give it TLC and give it the chance to be the best it can be in the location it is in. The Wall and other plants and poor soil don't lend themselves to major soil improvement. It's on a plot of land that is the "poor" part of the property in that respect (and I suspect it was the rubbish dump for the site clearance for the little estate we are on.

Thanks everyone,

Paul