Pieris and Magnolia Problems

I wonder if anyone can advise me on the following problems:

I bought this Pieris (Forest Flame) in May last year and it was growing well. In the last couple of weeks it looks as if it's drooping and has a few 'rust-like' areas on leaves (see attached pics)

I also bought a very young Magnolia Soulangeana around the same time and the other attached two pics show a comparison between May last year and today. Is it dead â?? it's never shown any evidence of growth.

Many thanks for any advice.

 

neither look dead to me as there appears to be fresh shoots on both plants. make sure they are not waterlogged or too dry.

How and where have they been planted?

 

Thanks for the responses. HasBeanCounter I have slightly acid soil in my newly planted shrub area so should be ok for my pieris along with camellia (which hasn't had any buds yet), lilac, hydrangea lacecap (Blue Wave) and hopefully magnolia - and the area is lightly shaded. I was very careful to look up correct planting method(s) and used some bone meal in planting hole before planting, then covered whole area with shredded bark - can't tell whether it is watelogged or dry! Watered copiously during last year and have had rain lately. Thanks.

 

push a bamboo cane into the soil to the depth of the roots, if it comes out ver wet you might need to investidgate further.

As it was only planted last year, taking it out to check the roots and soil and replanting with plenty of compost should be ok at this time of the year.

When you bought it was the pot crammed with roots going round and round?

Did you use a porous membrane before applying the bark

 

Thanks again for varied replies. I don't think roots were crammed inside pot - no I didn't use a membrane before laying bark. I'll certainly try the cane method to check ground - not sure about taking it out to check roots!!

 

I dont think this is the problem, but not sure you should use bonemeal when planting ericaceous plants as it contains calcium.
Personally I think the Pieris looks kind of normal after a hard winter, as long as the new growth comes out OK.
So the Magnolia made absolutely no growth last year?
No leaves?
Seems a bit odd.:cnfs:
As it does appear to be alive.

 

Thanks Pete - perhaps I'll leave off the bonemeal then! Hope pieris turns out OK. No- no leaves on Magnolia - if you look at the two pics I attached, the healthy-looking specimen (002) is what it looked like last May and the other one (dated 28-3) is current of course - doesn't appear to have any growth on it at all.

 

Isn't the Magnolia Soulangeana deciduous

 

Yes it is but doesn't seem to have shown any growth when in 'growing' season!

 

Its a waiting game I think.

But if it doesn't make real growth this year,personally I'd give up on it and buy a new plant.