I've got a couple of plants that have me stumped.
I have 5 silvermound artemesia. Last year one of them shrivelled up and I thought it had died. It came back this year, but shrivelled up and became brittle. I cut it back to the ground, and then the one next to it the same thing happened. Now a third has the same dieback happening. Does anyone have any idea about what this is. I was reading that I should cut them back to about 2 inches in height once they go to seed. The remaining ones are about 2 feet in diameter, but are starting to fall away from the center. They look sloppy. Has anyone any idea if cutting them back will help?
Also I had a weigela and a sunshine Blue Bluebeard Caryopteris that started to leaf out and just stopped. I took a photo to the garden center and the girl said to leave it and it should come back next year?? The leaves are only about 2-3mm and are still green. The weigela also started to grow leaves but stopped when the leaves were about an inch. I dug the plant up today after cutting a couple of branches and there was no green left. I don't mind taking that back to the garden center, but I'm at a loss with the Caryopteris. Do you think it's dead? should I pull it up and take it back too? I paid 30 for the weigela and 20 for the Bluebeard. They're under warranty til next June...
Also the vinca has started to come back after the mulch episode, so I cut the dead stuff off and cut the live pieces back to 3-4 inches. We'll see what happens...
Anyway, you're assistance would be much appreciated. I've attached some pics..
The pics are from last year...
the silvermound are the same size now from photo one
the weigela in photo two is the dead one..I have it's mate that is growing very well..
photo three is the sunshine blue bluebeard caryopteris near it's peak last year..
https://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/randalni/picsfordoris043.jpg
https://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/randalni/picsfordoris044.jpg
https://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa131/randalni/picsfordoris024.jpg
Hi opp
Firstly can I say how lovely it looks around your swimming pool
Both Artemesia and Caryopteris grow best in light well drained slightly alkaline soil in full sun. Artemesia also prefers the soil to be poor. If it is too well fed it will not grow well becoming quite leggy, woody at the base and sparse.
The Artemesia may need a Winter mulch of grit or gravel rather than the bark chip you have used. It does not like Winter wet.
I also wonder about their close proximity to the swimming pool. Do they get splashed on occasion with chlorine from it? This may also have affected the Weigela (which also prefers free draining soil) either with the chemicals used or just the fact that they are getting too wet.
One last thing Artemesia should have a light trim in Spring not be cut right down after flowering.
I hope some of that is helpful.
Firstly can I say how lovely it looks around your swimming pool
Both Artemesia and Caryopteris grow best in light well drained slightly alkaline soil in full sun. Artemesia also prefers the soil to be poor. If it is too well fed it will not grow well becoming quite leggy, woody at the base and sparse.
The Artemesia may need a Winter mulch of grit or gravel rather than the bark chip you have used. It does not like Winter wet.
I also wonder about their close proximity to the swimming pool. Do they get splashed on occasion with chlorine from it? This may also have affected the Weigela (which also prefers free draining soil) either with the chemicals used or just the fact that they are getting too wet.
One last thing Artemesia should have a light trim in Spring not be cut right down after flowering.
I hope some of that is helpful.
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opp2
- Senior Member
- Posts: 137
- Joined: Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:47 am
- Location: Greater Toronto Area-zone 4-5
Thank you. This is my second year for gardening. I'm really enjoying it. I have so many questions some days.
I'll post some pictures in a lower thread later today if I get a chance to take some. The gardens have grown much larger and fuller this year, but some areas have lost plants. It's good to have the option to put different plants in those spots too...
I'll post some pictures in a lower thread later today if I get a chance to take some. The gardens have grown much larger and fuller this year, but some areas have lost plants. It's good to have the option to put different plants in those spots too...