potentilla disease

After many trouble-free years, my potentilla is looking poorly, with flowers browning and shrivelling and a number of branches dying off (although other parts of the shrub look fine). The earth on one side of the shrub looks odd, with hard grey bits, and the roots there seem to have a whitish substance on them. Any ideas as to the problem and solution? Thanks.

 

Any chance of a photo ot two, Bonzo? Welcome to the site, by the way.:thumb:

 

Thanks for your welcome, Dai. I don't have a camera (I knew there was something missing in my life!!) so can't provide a photo. I can borrow a camera in two weeks time, so will post a photo then. But any ideas in the meantime would be welcome.

 

Welcome Bonzo

You don't say what type of potentilla you've got - I'm assuming a shrubby type?

No idea what the "hard grey bits" are - probably not related to your plant's problem.

I've found shrubby potentillas to be a bit frail, certainly not bomb proof like certain hypericums, spireas and cotoneasters. You mention "many trouble-free years" - it could just be in terminal decline and needs to be replaced. If you're really fond of it, it might be worth giving it a feed of general fertiliser and enough to drink for the rest of the summer and then cut it hard back in the autumn, getting rid of anything that's dead. Heroic surgery, in other words.

 

Wish our shrubby Potentillas were a bit frail. I have just had to cut back very sevely so we can atually get down one of the paths. Also dug up half a dozen self seeded ones from in the cobbles.
Still. Look very closely at the grey stuff in the soil. A thing called root aphids secrete a grey waxy protection. Otherwise it could just be a fairly normal fungus.
As suggested severe pruning does work, but give the plant some feed if you do.

 

Thanks for the advice, folks. I've been away for a few days, but before I went I gave the shrub a good feed and will follow up with severe surgery, as suggested. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

It's nice to have found such a helpful forum. Thanks again.