I checked on a customer's Wine and Roses Weigela today because he called in a panic. There are 3 shrubs, all planted at the same time (almost 2 yrs. ago) Two are doing fine, but one is all wilted looking. At first glance, I would say it looked thirsty, but after probing down into the soil, it seemed moist enough. They are mulched in river rock *gasp* it is such a harsh type of mulch for plants... but you give the customer what they want... I examined the leaves for signs of crawly pesty things, but -nothing. The leaves are just limp. I have been outside working all day, and my thinking is muddled. Anyone have any insight as to what might be wrong? We have gotten a whole lot of rain lately, could it be water logged? The other two plants are right around the corner of their house but face west, and this one faces north. Any thoughts? Thanks...
I think you've hit the nail on the head when you say the plant may be waterlogged Kay. Mind you the river rock won't be doing it any favours either. I'd advise the customer to move the plant from it's north facing position to one on the west side like the other two.
Eileen, thanks so much for your reply. I really like to bounce my gardening questions and ideas off my fellow garden pals. The guy would probably freak out if I suggested moving it. It would upset the look of his foundation plantings. If it is soaked, I am hoping it won't drown and die. Unfortunately, we are looking at more rain in our forecast. I like to put down a bit of hardwood mulch at the base of a plant if a customer insists on having the rock beds.
I am wondering about the waterlogging. If it IS indeed waterlogged, then all mulch sorts, whatever the type will be doing what mulch is supposed to do--namely hold moisture in, so removing the mulch (at least temporarily) may help establish a diagnosis or at the least R/O one possibility of the cause. The first thing that I thought about was the location, then I recalled that there are some of that same plant planted on the north side of the building in which I live, and they are thriving...so, I don't know about that.
If it is waterlogging causing the problem Kay then I'd try adding sand to the soil to help the water drain away quicker. You could also add some well rotted manure to the soil to give the plant a boost and to aid aeration.
Eileen, Sjoerd, Thanks for these suggestions! Much appreciated! I'll let you know how this turns out...
Could you build up the soil into a raised bed to get the plant better drainage in that spot? Sand wouldn't help if water is pooling there. Maybe get some large stones around the edges to hold the soil up some and it would blend in with the rock mulch.
Gardentoad - Thank you for your input. You know, if this plant was in my garden, I would be able to take more action to save it, and it probably wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place! The customer has proclaimed it dead and wants it replaced. It may not really be dead yet, but it isn't pretty like the other two, so it doesn't fit in his landscape anymore. :'( I talked with him about what caused the plant to fail. He sheepishly confessed that he had watered it a lot in response to it wilting. I will get him another one, and I told him that it has to have mulch around it. We have had way above average rain here this spring and summer so far, so the ground is pretty saturated. I told him I want to see the plant's roots when we take it out. I have SO many plants in my garden that have been pronounced unfit by customers, so I bring em home and nurture them! Maybe this will be one of them?
