Bump

I agree with Roselee. When did you plant the new shrubs? What was the weather (temp) like and what was your care regimen after planting?

If it were me, I'd be grateful for the deaths as now I would only have to pull HALF as many plants out.

Seriously, I am against ALL foundation plantings. Low-water flowers or low-growing low-water shrubs such as Rosemary (if that's hardy in your area), I can live with. Bushes growing up against my house - no.

I'd pull the rest out and find something else to do with that space.

Yes, someday you may want to extend the beds out both sides of the house. I can see it something like on THIS recent post. Scroll down a bit to see the photos.

Agree with some sort of watering problem as first suspect in new plant deaths. Though any chance the bed was chemically cleared of grass/weeds before you planted there? Some vegetation killers are formulated for a lingering effect that could also account for such a group fail.

I planted them in the Spring. So it was probably 70s-80s which is mild down here. I did water them for the first few weeks but maybe not regularly enough. Nothing is growing in that flower bed now that I think of it. Shouldn’t there be some weeds?

I’m not aware of any chemical treatments but We have only lived in this house two years.

There is no backyard. I have a 10x20 space between the house and guest house in the back, a small narrow bed on the side at the driveway and then front yard. It’s not much to cultivate. My driveway has Boston ferns and begonias right now. I’m pretty happy with it.

I like to have base plants and add seasonal color. I really want to plant some pansies.

I am hoping I can tame everything and make it nice. I know boxwoods are boring, but they were already on one side of the house when we bought it. I thought they would look ok as a background. And then I could add seasonal color in front of them.

All of my neighbors have amazing boxwood hedges but they are professionally manicured unlike mine!

Some other homes here have oak leaf hydrangeas which are pretty. I was thinking about incorporating some of those.

Should I really dig up the boxwoods on the other side. Then what?

My sister always says if it’s alive and green leave it alone! Haha!!!! But I know you guys are way more advanced gardeners than us!

I love the idea of rosemary because I use it once a week when I roast chicken.

And I need to think of a more modern way to edge the garden. There are little boards on the ground now. Very dated

Nothing is growing in that flower bed now that I think of it. Shouldn’t there be some weeds?.... I’m not aware of any chemical treatments but We have only lived in this house two years.

Does that tree happen to be a black walnut? I can't tell from the photo, but maybe someone else can. If so, it could explain the barren bed: Black walnut releases a chemical compound from its roots, called "juglone," into the soil which inhibits the growth of nearby plants. This property is called "allelopathy" and plants that do this are called "allelopathic."

I’m not sure. I thought it was a pecan

The leaves are getting g picked up today so ignore that. But you can see my sad little dead boxwoods.

My original guess would have been pecan, but lack the eye to rule out black walnut by the falling leaves or bark. Do you get pecans off it?

im not sure. Ive seen pecans in the yard but I’m not sure where they’re coming from

I was speaking to my husband and realized this is the SECOND time we have planted boxwoods on that side of the house that have died.

We do not have a sprinkler system. I’m wondering how long you have water boxwoods to get them established? Maybe that’s where I’m failing. I can set them up on a timer with the hose and water it a couple times a week or every other day. However often until they’re established.

Or perhaps try a different bush? It’s very very shady. The ferns on my porch are thriving so I was thinking of adding ferns but feel like I need some height in the back of the flower bed

Thoughts?

Have you ruled out a gas leak? Just wondering.

Omar

No. Very good point. It’s funny you say that. I was just reading an article about this very thing. Apparently gas leaks will kill plants and grass and are very common. I will investigate tomorrow , but I believe the gas line is in the back of our property not the front.

Here it is almost ready for Christmas. I will add some daytime photos now that the leaves are cleaned up. All 22 bags! This is what I’m thinking. I would love to shape those boxwoods into topiaries. Perhaps spheres? Rip out the nandinas at the steps and put flower beds in their place that I can change seasonally?

Is that a black walnut next to your house? Even plants with some tolerance to juglone will struggle if they’re that close