Dying Shrub

Clayr · Joined: 14 May 2004 Posts: 22 Location: Lowry Crossing, TX

When we first moved into this house about 13 months ago, we were sold by a Calloway's nursery a small shrub called a Japanese Holly. We were assured that it enjoyed full sun and was hearty. "You can't kill it with a board," the guy said. Okay. We planted it, watered it, fertilized it mildly, and it did great all winter and through the hottest part of the summer and into the end of August. Now it's dying. Turning brown and drying up! It has been doing well with regular sprinkler watering of the lawn around it. We'ver applied green sand. No help. Any ideas? First plants are like first children....get the picture?

sandih · Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 1077 Location: Dallas,TEXAS

How often does your sprinkler system come on? It's possible that it's being overwatered.

Clayr · Joined: 14 May 2004 Posts: 22 Location: Lowry Crossing, TX

Sandih,

Actually, I have no sprinkler system. The watering it's received all along has come from a hose-sprinkler and has actually been a touch less than average owing to recent rains. It thrived during heavy watering I did back in the spring; I put down new sod nearby and the sprinker was run more than average.

Other ideas?

sandih · Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 1077 Location: Dallas,TEXAS

No, no new ideas just more of the same one. It takes a little while for a shrub to show signs of stress after being overwatered. We got lots of rain and you watered the area heavily because of new sod. I think that's still the answer.

Scott-in-Texas · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 9:39 am Post subject:

Please describe the location of the shrub based on the questions I have presented below.

How many hours of sun does it get a day?

Which way is it facing, east, west, north or south?

Is there a brick or stone wall next to it, if so, what side is the wall facing, east, west, north or south? If there is not a wall flanking the shrub, what is next to it, what is the material of composition if a structure, and which direction does it face, east, west, north or south?

What type of soil is it in?

Did you do anything to improve the soil that it is planted in? If so, what did you add?

Do you have it planted and mulched properly? Meaning, did you leave one third of the root ball above grade when you planted it and then mulched it at 3-4 inches?

If it is mulched already, has it possibly created a mat? If you are using either cedar or cypress mulch then you need to "fluff" your mulch occasionally. They both can create a mat it is hard for the plant to get the water and air the root zone needs.

Is the ground boggy or dry most of the time to a depth of 5-6 inches?