Loropetalums Going in Ground Start Dying

4 years ago

I planted some Loropetalums into the ground, in a small raised mound. Native California clay was amended with an organic mix that was slightly acidic. The raised mounds were supposed to help prevent the soil from getting too saturated since that location is at the base of a long slope down from the home. The plants immediately started to look unhealthy. You can see in these photos that some leaves are dying and others are drooping and twisting.

One thing I notice is the soil is drying out rapidly. If I do not water the plants daily the soil dries out and the plants immediately start to wilt. It would be tempting to add some peat moss to the mix, but the soil would then be too acidic and I would need to treat it with dolomite lime. It's a bit too much work for an uncertain outcome.

I could add a mulch if needed, but I wanted to see how the plants would do with daily watering before mulching.

What can I do here to improve the chances of the plants surviving and starting to establish?

Featured Answer

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

4 years ago

Absolutely check moisture at depth. Dig a hole with a trowel. That’s something which needed doing as soon as they started wilting with no explanation.

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Comments (9)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
At this time of year, daily watering could be pretty much SOP for anything relatively newly planted. And mulching would certainly help in reducing soil moisture evaporation.

btw, peat is not the only material used to assist in water retention. Any decent compost will work to the same end without the pH issues of the peat. And loropetalums prefer an acidic soil anyway so peat is still a viable amendment.
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay
Original Author
4 years ago
@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) If I give them daily watering, how soon would you expect them to show signs of stabilizing?

I have had an experience with container Loropetalums that once they go into a death spiral it happens rapidly and it is difficult to pull them out of it. So I have a sense that my margin of error here is slim.
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Jilly
4 years ago
Texas here, clay alkaline soil — mine never do well in shady spots, but thrive in the full brutal sun most of the day. Is it possible that’s an issue?

I had some being shaded by larger shrubs (and soil staying too moist) and they deteriorated quickly. I’ve since moved them.
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked Jilly
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay
Original Author
4 years ago
@Jilly These plants get afternoon sun.
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay
Original Author
4 years ago
These plants are getting worse, and they look extremely dry to me. They look extremely dry even though I am giving them daily water, even though I now built a shade tent for them so they do not get brutal sun before they establish. Why would they be drying out?
toxcrusadr
4 years ago
How much water are you putting on, and does it soak in well (rather than running off), and have you stuck a finger down a couple inches to see how the moisture is below the surface?
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked toxcrusadr
westes Zone 9b California SF Bay
Original Author
4 years ago
@toxcrusadr The surface is saturating. Based on how the plants look, I am starting to think it is not getting in deep enough. I am not clear on what could cause that.

I guess I should test with a skewer to see if it is wet deep down?
annpat
4 years ago
I think that plant is miserable where it is. I don't know if it's the mound, or lack of water, but it resembles a plant harmed by amendment. Do you have gardening success in areas where you are not trying to alter your native situation?