Bill,
Your observation sure is correct about soil texture like dry flour and
excessively compact. Due to our drought, I water not frequently and no
later than after 3PM.
At the moment, it is not feasible to replant the entire ground cover.
I am looking into amending with a rich compost (mulch) which the city
makes available at no cost. That can be applied to healthy sections and
where die off occurred. As a temporary amendment, does applying compost
on ground surface (throw and scatter in) rather than dig in, help at all?
Does feeding help temporarily?
At what time of year (in So CAL) is it ok to feed my Red Apple?
I did start a few plugs in pots (sterile potting compound) from a
healthy section to look for disease.
Many thanks to Bill and Sheldon. Dave_s
Sheldon wrote:
On Oct 17, 9:35�am, Dave_S wrote:
Portions of my Red Apple ground cover have started to die. Small patches
just begin dying next to healthy sections.
Have not over watered or fed lately. Too many sections are dying to
suspect animal urine.
Is this a disease? Need suggestions how to rescue my Red Apple. Winter
in my local is usually mild here in Southern California near Los
Angeles, zip code 91402.
Thank you for any suggestions.
Pictures can be viewed at
http://picasaweb.google.com/dave.pub...ED_APPLE_DYING
Thank you, Dave_S
The ground along what appears to be a walkway looks overly dry and
very compacted... also looks depleted of nutrients, typical of S. Cal
yard soil. Seems to me that the entire area would benefit greatly
from tilling in a very generous application of organic matter/rich
topsoil, and then replanting plugs of your ground cover taken from
healthy spots. You may want to first try potting some healthy plants
in fresh sterile potting soil as a control test just to make sure it's
not the plants that have a disease. Also check carefully for small
insects and/or mildew, and dig into the ground looking for grubs.
Often watering late in the day doesn't allow the plants to dry out
before night and constant wetness causes myriad problems. Sometimes
just an application of soap spray will fix things... a solution of 1
Tbs Murphy's Oil Soap to a quart of water may do it... just treat a
small area at first (a couple sq yds).