Figured I would post a second pic showing a closer shot of the troubled plant.

Thanks,
Michael

i wasnt going to help.. but since you asked in the title.. lol ...

its dead.. replace it ..

when you dig it up ... you MIGHT find out why the roots failed ..

life goes on

and as to this: Not sure how the average person is supposed to tell what is wrong with their plants and then treat it accordingly frustrating!

its really no easier for us ... we just make it sound like we give authoritative answers ...

whatever she dug up.. probably fungus related to the mulch ... very common .... check out WAG at link???

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: and if not that.. some other fungii/mushroom.. simply in the mulch.. doubt it had anything to do with the plant failure

ken adrian-

Thanks for the response...sorry about the "Help" in the title...guess that was a bit of an over reaction...just wanted someone to assist me...LoL

Anyway, so definitely dead huh? Dang that sucks....2 or 3 years of growth down the tubes!

Did not know mulch could contain fungus...that sucks..maybe I should start using stones for everything...thought mulch was really good because it holds in moisture when watering.

So no nursing it back to health....just asking?

Thanks,
Michael

i was just fooling around re: title.. nothing to be sorry about..

i would NOT pull it out .. i would wait to see how it responds next spring.. just making sure it is properly watered fall and winter ...

but my gut tells me.. it wont survive..

but i surely would not waste money on medicine.. or any such thing ... it cna not be cured.. all we can find out is whether it is worse than it looks.. or i should say.. healthier than it looks..

and that simply involves time..

unless you see a replacement on sale cheap.. lol ..

besides.. its an opportunity.. i would find something other than a third same thing anyway ... so if it dies.. i would not fixate on trying to find a size equivalent one to recreate the design ... but i cant really see the full design anyway .... so who cares what i think ...

whats the post?? flagpole.. perhaps someone fell on it once.. ????

ken

Fungus in or on the mulch is rarely an issue for live plants (the title of Ken's link alluded to it not being the issue). The fungus is just digesting the dead material the mulch is made of.

tj

It's not dead yet but it won't be long :-( Generally when you see that much discoloration/dead foliage, it is only just a matter of time. Hinokis are slow to show symptoms or react to problems - what is ailing the plant could have started early last season or any time since. Typically the appearance suggests a water issue - too much, too little, poor drainage, compromised vascular system (root rot). That you have perfectly healthy brother plants close by is not necessarily of any significance - soil conditions can change in mere inches and one dry rootball does not mean all of the same condition.

Pruning or cutting off the dead growth is not going improve the looks any nor will it assist in regrowth. What's dead is dead and will remain bare. Ken's right in considering a replacement - this one's a goner.

btw, any organic mulch will produce fungi - fungus is just a medium of decomposition and is a natural occurrence with any decomposing organic matter, which bark mulch is (or will be). For the most part they are harmless - benficial fungi far outnumber pathogenic fungi -)

ken, gardengal thanks for your help. I guess I will go ahead and wait until after winter to dig up the plant and then figure out if I will replace it with the same thing (most likely I will to match what's already there).

I hope the same thing (whatever that thing is) doesn't attack the healthy ones next to it. Should I be thinking about a "preventive" spray or anything else?

Also, what specifically should I look for when I do pull the dead one out next year to maybe have a better idea what happen to it...look at the roots, etc?

Thanks,
Michael

Dig in the dirt around the plant. Is it usually muddy? Are you watering it too much?