How tall is this hedge? Japanese Spireas usually aren't all that tall. It seems to me you should be able to find something else to replace it if they all go. It may be that they are succumbing to a root-borne fungus. I don't really know. Spireas are in the rose family, and many plants in that family are notoriously susceptible to all manner of pests. I don't recall Japanese Spirea as being that way, but it still could be. There are probably Hypericums that would work as substitutes, provided you don't mind switching from rosy-pink flowers to golden yellow ones.

Ditto what Ampersand posted. Just a few other thoughts: Did you find out just why the root ball was filled with white mold? Were the roots rotten? Was there a mealy-bug infestation at the roots? Washing off mold from dead roots will not solve your problems. Was the tree root-bound? Did you re-plant the tree into the same size container, or did you do an up-potting? Was the root ball loaded with white, healthy feeder roots, or full of dead/dying, brown roots? Drastic changes in cultural conditions can cause leaves to shed at an alarming rate. If the compromised roots can't support any new growth, your tree will continue to drop leaves. If half your roots are dead from a moldy condition, then your tree will have to grow a new root system....and your tree will shed leaves until new roots can support new leaves. A tree will not push out leaves that the roots can't support. Interior light levels, even in a "sun room" can never approach the light levels, and spectrum-quality found under an open sky. Plants "see" light differently than the human eye. Even "bright" interiors are usually far too dark, and unless you are growing in a greenhouse, plants will slowly suffer. If your sun-room is dark, your tree will shed leaves. If your other Ficus a. is doing "great", then growing both trees with the same culture, your newer Ficus a. tree will also do well....maybe. Is your original tree thriving...or, just doing well enough not to die? There's a difference. The canopy of the smaller tree might also be getting far more light than the canopy of your taller, tree. Leaves growing a few feet away from the dark ceiling of your sun room may be getting very little light, and far too much dry heat. Heat rises, and will 'cook' leaves. Cooked leaves = leaf drop. Check culture carefully. Just some thoughts, and I hope this may help. Frank This post was edited by BronxFigs on Tue, Sep 2, 14 at 14:09

Kandy, please take this as just an initial shot at attempting to find the cause of your situation: Do be aware-it is possible to overwater plants. Some of the visual cues that this is happening include chlorosis(Yellowing of foliage that is supposed to be green) wilting stems and foliage (I know-sounds wrong, but is true), other off-color effects, and lack of vigor. And yes, all of these symptoms can be caused by numerous other causal agents! Wouldn't you know it! So, it seems like you know what you're about with gardening, etc. Perhaps you can provide additional info for us. Finally, while it is too early for "fall color", some plants each year do seem to show early color change. We don't always necessarily find out the reason(s) for this effect. Are you seeing something beyond just the odd coloration here and there....to a more general. systemic situation? +oM

Did you ever find out what this was? I was search for the same thing and came across your post. We have several similarities coincidentally. (see pics) We just moved into our first home East of Plano in the Dallas area. The beds in the front of the house are new and were put in by the seller to give the house curb appeal. Shortly after moving in the crepe myrtle turned back, quit growing leaves and powdery white spots appeared all over it. The landscaper we found on NextDoor said fungus and pulled it out and that's when he covered everything in the red mulch. He also moved all the boxwoods and magnolia a foot forward because they were a few inches from the foundation. Later in November he pulled the magnolia tree because it was too close to the house and said they are known to have invasive roots. It had also dropped most of its leaves. The above pictures are how it looked at the beginning of November. Here are a few from today... Since then the boxwoods have all turned from green to dark red. I am worried I am going to have to yank these too. We have a RainBird sprinkler system but do not plan to use it much so I am thinking we might just need to replace them with native Texas plants that are drought tolerant, but I am worried about the existing issue. Especially if it is fungal related. Does this mean that my soil has fungus in it and will affect everything I plant in it? Could the mulch have caused this as this seems to be when the decline started? Also, the magnolia tree was sitting on top of a root the size of a mans leg. It was directionally going toward the house. Should I cut this so it quits growing? Have I wrecked my beds? Please help!