is it dead?

last year i put a ceanosis,( sorry if that is wrong spelling)in the back garden ,and it was doing so well and really spreading out, it grew really quickly and was a nice lush green, and i was thinking to myself that this year i would have some nice blue flowers , but i think that the cold winter has killed it off because it is completly brown and the evergreen leaves are all dry and brown ,.... really disapointed ...

.do you think i should leave it in the ground or replace it with another one . ?

 

Hello May,

I think you are referring to a Ceanothus (Californian Lilac). From my limited experience with this plant, I think that the problem usually stems from their feet being too wet during the winter months rather than the cold, however, this winter has been particularly hard for the whole garden.

I would suggest cutting back to see if there is any green wood. It might survive, but with so much cutting, I am unsure whether it would flower this year (someone else will know more about this than I do)

If cutting back would make the plant look unsightly, and you really want flowers this year, it would probably be better to buy a new plant. You could try taking cuttings during June(ish) and increase your stock and provide a back-up incase you have the same problem next year.

Also, be sure to mix in something like grit into the planting space if you have heavy soil, as this will reduce the chances of your new plant's roots rotting over the next winter.

- Luke -

 

My Ceanothus plants look pretty dead too, they tend not to be very hardy. I leave all plants that have a troubled Winter to see how they do - some don't come back until very late in the Summer, or even the next year. I've got a large garden though, so I can get away with leaving some things as it doesn't make the place look too untidy - with a smaller "show" garden that might be a difficult policy to adopt.

 

i think it must have been this really cold winter that did the damage, because a few years ago i did have a ceanothus planted in nearly the same spot ,and it lasted for years and did really well ,but it was planted a bit to close to the path and it started to be a nusience , so hubby said it had to be dug up as it was in the way, i felt really guilty digging up such a big healthy plant , so that is why i decided to plant another one but a bit further away from the path . because they do spread out quite a way.


if this one is dead i will try again with another one as they look so nice when they are in full bloom