Plants & shrubs dying.

:confused:

 

I have a problem with certain plants and shrubs dying,
the plants in question that have died or are dying are a Rhododendren (died), two Astilbes and a Spiraea.
Along this side of the garden are several rose bushes, fuschias and pinks which are unaffected.

The Astilbies and Spiraea seem to be dying a bit at a time.

Every year I put fertilizer on the garden and have been using the same brand for some years so I do not think it is the fertilizer.

Can anyone come up with any suggestions.

PS. this has only started occuring this year.

I do not know what happened to the origonal post, but here is a copy of it.

 

Hi alan, I sympathise as I have had a recent collapse of [of all things!] a sumach! It is planted with other things like yours which are thriving. I am wondering if it might be some kind of nasty in the roots- but I'm reluctant to investigate while the plant is so poorly....Perhaps someone else can give us advice?
I have also noticed that a lot of people are losing plants which dislike very hot sun.

 

Had it just been the rhodo and the astilbe I would have said possibly drought, but Spiraea do not really suffer when established.
Now it may be that if pinks are thriving then the soil is alakaline and certainly Rhododendrons do not like that.
Perhaps the fertiliser is unnecessary?

 

Hi Palustris what do you think of some kind of creature in the soil, and what would you do?

 

It is very rare for something like vine weevil grubs (in the garden soil as opposed to in pots) to completely destroy the root system of a big plant.
Moles have been known to tunnel underneath shrubs and cause problems, but again not usually total collapse.
Cats using shrubs as spraying posts can kill,but you would normally see it or at least smell it!
I have spent a while looking through my books, but I cannot really find anything which is useful, sorry. Certainly things like honey fungus and other soil pathogens would affect all the plants in a given area, not just some. And there would be other signs.
Rhus is subject to wilt. Cut off a branch and look at the cross section, if there is any brown or black staining thenthat is what it is likely to be. No cure sorry.
Wilt does not appear to hit rhodo's or spiraea though.

[ 17. July 2006, 12:39 PM: Message edited by: Palustris ]

 

My sumach is still a mystery. It is now shootingly strongly from all except the first branch affected, which is shooting from very low down.
Some weeks ago the border in which it grows suffered from weekiller spray blown from next door. Perhaps it was this? But still, why were the golden rod, sweet williams, and jasmine totally unaffected? :confused:
I suppose I should just be glad it's recovering!