Help For Dying Foundation Shrubs
I bought a 5 year old house in Winston-Salem, NC 4 years ago which had established landscaping. Since then, ~6-7 of the foundation plants have died or are in the process of dying. The plants are mature China Girl and China Boy hollies and one Japanese holly. The plants are on the west side of the house. The leaves typically turn yellow, then brown. The shrub will normally die in sections, ie., the leaves start turning on one side of the plant and gradually moves to the other side. It typically takes 1-2 years for the plant to completely die. A neighbor thinks the problem is nematodes. A landscape architect doing some work for me thinks it might be root rot. The soil is pretty heavy clay. Any thoughts on the cause and/or cure? Thanks.
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- Super Green Thumb
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- Super Green Thumb
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While we are on the topic, other than adding organic matter (and therefore increasing the diversity of organisms in the soil including predatory nematodes, beneficial bateria, fungi and the like as well as some of the bad guys as well (a healthy soil has both the good and the bad and good keep the bad in check)
Anyway, other than that; does anyone have any other organic techniques for controlling nematodes?
Anyway, other than that; does anyone have any other organic techniques for controlling nematodes?
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- Super Green Thumb
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- Super Green Thumb
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Builders are notorius for digging a half-azz hole, then popping the plant in and moving on. If you can, till the area well, then add some soil amendment (either soil conditioner or leaf mulch), then till again. Dig your hole about two-three times the width of the rootball and leave a small portion of the ball above grade. This should get you in much better shape.
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