dig a few small holes.. and find out if there is any moisture at root level ...3 to 6 inches down ...

in the alternative.. put the hose on a slight trickle.. and let it run for a few hours.. moving it around a bit ... so water will get deep into the soil ...

looks like lack of deep water.. in august ...

is it anywhere near a lawn that is sprayed??? .. chem drift might be my only other thought ...

ken

Thx Ken. I've got the water hose on them right now. The rest of this month will have temps in triple digits with no rain ahead. So, that's a good possibility. So, they are getting a good soaking now.

Looks like the newer growth may be a bit chlorotic, which makes them more susceptible to sun scald. Wax Myrtles will tolerate neutral soils, but don't do well if things get too alkaline. I'm guessing soil and water may both lean alkaline as far west as Temple. If true, the essential irrigating with tap water during dry times can make the chlorosis worse.

We're seeing this in north Texas with some of our other east Texas (acidic soil) natives due to the lack of rain this summer. Might look into adding a foliar or drench treatment to help keep things greener during drought conditions.

Wax myrtle tolerates alkaline clay (assuming that's your soil type since you're in Temple) as long as the soil doesn't dry out, as suggested by the chlorosis. Since you can't alter the pH of your tap water, you can apply a generous layer of compost, topped off with mulch to keep the soil cool and discourage evaporation. Let the water from your garden hose drip through the top-dressing. Hope this helps.

Gave them quite a bit of water yesterday and will do so again tomorrow. Thanks to all you who had the insight that I needed.

Xtal