On 02/10/2014 20:50, Simon T wrote:
OK, got another couple of questions for you.

About 5 years ago I planted a couple of little bushes/shrubs in one of
my borders.

I forget what sort they were, but the first one, although it was a slow
grower, seems to have not grown at all. Looks rather unhealthy and has
dead bits on.

I did pull back the gravel and put a bit of compost round the roots
earlier this year, but hasn't done much good. Heres a pic of the first...

http://tinyurl.com/l2syret

The second bush/shrub does seem to have grown. But looks rather sparse
and also has dead bits on it.

http://tinyurl.com/mmtok8t

I know its getting into autumn, but they don't look much better in the
summer.

Clearly they're not very happy, anything I can do to try and improve
their look?

Thanks in advance!



Hi Simon,

To start with, both shrubs are planted too close to the fence and may
very well be in a 'rain shadow' and so are almost perpetually droughted,
this year especially.

I'm guessing that the first shrub is an acer. Acers are plants of light
woodland and do not appreciate being exposed to full sun (or wind) all
year round, especially whilst suffering drought. Their roots are fairly
shallow, so will be baked in their current situation. In woodland, or
at least in a shadier postion, the root run would be cooler and mulched
with nature's own leafmould. You cannot create this habitat against
your fence, so I suggest you wait until the shrub is dormant and lift
it. If you can't offer it woodland, consider potting it up and keeping
it in a shady place ... but then it will be even more dependent on you
for water. Whether you leave it in the ground or pot it up, you must
*must* water it.

The second shrub is probably a Spiraea, but it's not easy to see.
It can cope with more sunshine, but still needs to be kept well watered,
especially in the kind of scorching summer we've just had.
It looks as if it may be planted next to a drain cover (or perhaps a
large slab of slate) on the left hand side, and clearly next to wheelie
bins on the right. Both these will stop the shrub receiving natural
rain fall. With the fence behind also limiting rainfall, this shrub is
hopelessly dependent on you for year round watering.

Whatever else you do, you need to give these shrubs a good, solid
drenching. Even if it rains, don't rely on that reaching the roots.
Certainly cut out all the dead wood to tidy the plants up *and* to stop
them dying back further, hopefully. You really need to make a decision
about the acer, because it is suffering.

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay