Ceanothus looking poorly

Should leaves be turning yellow?

We have not had rain for weeks well not heavy rain to get deep enough.

Should I prune her well back or wait until Spring.

I never feed her.

 

Hi Scotcat, I've just written a lenghty reply and my connection cut out and lost it I'll try again. I would wait until spring before pruning back. At the moment I have a poorly ceanothus which is really struggling to grow. I planted it 2 years ago and every cold snap causes dies back and the plant is finding it difficult to put any growth on before the next hiccup. I've bought fleece to protect it this year. As you are further up country to us you probably get it even colder so pruning it now might harm it if it turns cold suddenly. As to why the leaves have turned yellow I have no idea. I have grown them successfully in Yorkshire for years and have never come across this problem, sorry.

 

Taken this afternoon Celia.



My shrub is about 4yrs old or more.

But we have had few cold spells over the last few weeks but this afternoon was like a summers day an dgo tup to 17deg.


There is all some new shoots growing as well.

 

Hi Scotcat, it doesn't look good, what type of ceanothus is it?
The leaves look as if there is a deficiency in something, my RHS book says that ceanothus are likely to lose the green in their leaves if they are grown on shallow chalk soils, but I wouldn't have thought that applied in Scotland? The only other thing could be iron deficiency, so giving it a feed would help or it could be poor drainage.
I hope this helps a little. Fingers crossed that it pulls through.

 

Hi scotkat, It looks to be one of the late flowering kinds, is it deciduous?
Dont think drought would be a likely cause.
Think I would just leave it alone as its so late in the season now, and keep an eye open next spring/summer.

 

Hello Pete if I remember last year yes she is deciduous.

I do so hope I dont loose it as when in bloom gives a nice show in the garden.

 

If it is deciduous then my guess would be that its just colouring up early. Its been a funny year and many trees down here have decided to "call it a day", early.