in z5 .. i would bet on cold damage.. frost/freeze ... long before i would consider some cold weather fungal pandemic ...

how about a pic or two ???

doubt the mulch has anything to do with it ...

ken

Mold and fungus are a part of decomposition in mulches. I found that out last year :( of course it didn't help that the mold count was already high due to the mountains of snow that sat so long.

It does seem a bit too early for you, considering you just layed the mulch.

The mold count is high here again this year and perhaps where you are too? Could be a contributing factor......

Not sure of the problem or its cause, but agree with Ken that mulch is not the culprit. Unless you used a rather fresh manure as mulch, which I suspect not.

edited to add that molds and fungus arising from mulch decomposition are non-issues for growing plants.

"edited to add that molds and fungus arising from mulch decomposition are non-issues for growing plants."

If you do your research, you will find that there are some that can become an issue.

Well, cold weather isn't the culprit, because it's been warmer the past week than it's been all spring--and the plants looked healthy as could be when I put down the new mulch. We have had a lot of rain this week....and the Annabelles are in an area that tends to drain slowly, so it's possible that they are waterlogged. But the Coreopsis are in a well-drained area. This morning, I noticed that, where there were just recently healthy, happy plants, there is now wilted foliage laying down on the ground. If it were just one or the other, I'd probably not be too suspicious....but two sets of very different plants, in two very different parts of my garden...the only thing in common that has recently changed is the mulch. Maybe the combination of mulch and rain. Hmmm....very mysterious.

The only other thing I can think of is...you possibly mulched too close to the base of the plants?

What exactly was the mulch?

Well, cold weather isn't the culprit, because it's been warmer the past week than it's been all spring

==>>> ouch.. the cold damage can easily.. go back 7 to 10 days.. and it doesnt show ... until.. the temps go up ...

in cold early spring ... the plants grow in spurts.. and can be held in something like suspended animation for a cold week ...

and then.. bazinga .. you get the warm week... and it tries to double in size.. only to find out.. it had some leaf cell damage ... and presto.. you have some weird leaf patterns ...

pix might have made this discussion shorter ...

yeah gal ... get them books back out.. rotflmbo ... the one time you agree with me .. and note such .. you get poked in the eye.. what a hoot .. made my weekend .. lol ...

the next step .. is to just observe.. if new growth restarts properly ... then the problem was momentary in time.. like a cold snap ...

if it continues .. then there is an on going process.. and we would need pix ...

ken

Rather than fungal/mold damage, I'd wonder about the mulch being contaminated with an herbicide. There've been reports of this occurring with mulch, compost and even manure:

http://extension.umd.edu/learn/gardener-alert-beware-herbicide-contaminated-compost-and-manure

http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/killer-compost-herbicide-contamination-zl0z1211zkin.aspx

Herbicide contamination would be more likely if other plants around which it was applied showed leaf curling or other foliage distortion.

As another poster asked: what type of mulch was used?

Here are healthy ones.

This is a foot away.

Mulch is from the village, triple ground, aged, and I've used it for the past 10 Years.

Yes - the reason I asked what the mulch was was the possibility of herbicide contamination since the damage was so rapid and widespread. If it was from the village maybe there is a possibility it had contaminated grass in it.

The mulch looks like it's adjacent to stems/foliage? If so, I'd move it back a bit from each plant. Maybe you got a batch that had a lot of walnut tree in it? If a plant suddenly collapses, I might also wonder about roots being eaten or severed from under the ground. Any signs of moles/voles/chipmunks?

looks like bacterial wilt. if the soil was wet when you put the mulch down, could have provided the right conditions for it. excavate a little bit and see if the stems look rotted. soil pathogens are always there and sometimes we give them the conditions they like. damn shame though.