Knock out of pots and look at roots, check for dry pockets or sogginess. One thing that could come on over time is deterioration due to decomposition of potting medium, associated inadequate aeration of the root environment.

Another common pitfall is baking of the roots on the south sides of small dark pots placed where the sun hits them. This is something else that might not necessarily show up right away. Especially if one side is damaged and then the pots are turned later, resulting in additional root loss on the other side.

its been a long time since planting.. but it could be showing some late transplant stress ... but odds are low on that ...

its not uncommon.. in harsher climes ... for minor planting or heat stress ... to show in fall or winter .... or in my case.. with ground freeze ... even next spring ...

it can be very hard to tell when the problem happened ... or to convince someone... that what you currently see ... happened long ago ...

with blinding sun on half the plant.. and the rest in dark shade.. its hard to see your plant ... but from what i can tell... it doesnt look all that bad ...

ken

I thought they were sitting in black pots on top of landscape fabric. However any issues developed while still in the pots could carry over for a time after planting in the ground. Also if amended planting holes were used there could be watering related problems, due to how amending of planting hole backfill affects movement of water into and out of amended planting holes.

Um...this is a Ligustrum. Kinda hard to hurt. Mine look great - I got two at the SF Flower and Garden Show in 2016. I don't think that the ones in the photo look bad. I might just whack 'em and let them try a second act.

Hi! These do get a fall "bronzing", and can shed some leaves. This is a normal response to the cooler night temperatures. When Spring hits they will push new leaves all over (mine are already starting to do this) and fill out again. Once established in the garden these need little to no supplemental water, especially in the Bay Area. Container plants do require regular irrigation, probably weekly or more in extreme heat, much less in the winter. I'm in Berkeley and have not watered my potted ones since the November rains (although I'm thinking I will have to water this week!).

Mine still look fine.

I have a question. I bought several Sunshine Ligustrum early last spring. They have taken off growing and have been so pretty. I do know that in the winter they look a little sad but mine seem to have started losing their leaves. I will attach pictures. Is their anything I can do? I know it’s been a little warmerhere this year in south Georgia

and have wanted to cut them back some but haven’t. Wanted to wait til early spring. Should I fertilize them? I’m worried about them.

Please, see my pics from a year ago. Smth similar?

Now I know that Sunshine Ligustrum shrubs do that every winter. I though mine were dying. However, they came back to life in April (if I remember correctly, may be even earlier) and more than doubled in size.

These shrubs have strong root system and very resilient here in Northern California which is a desert where I live (East Contra Costa).

Everywhere I have lived (Midwest and New England) privet/Ligustrum are deciduous, so it is likely a response to cooler temperatures and shorter days/less intense sunlight as mentioned farther upthread, even if they aren’t deciduous in Georgia.

Pruning will encourage the plant to put out new growth, so in your warm climate I think you are wise to wait until the time the plant would normally show swelling buds for the next season’s growth before pruning. I don’t live in your zone, however, so others with more experience in your zone may disagree.

I planted my sunshine Ligustrum this winter. I live in zone 9 alkaline soil but now I am concerned the plant likes acidity soil. Not a good thing. is this true or will I be ok.

Not sure where that idea came from. This shrub will grow in a wide range of soils. Don't worry.