Looks/sounds like a root/crown rot -- likely infect from the start, if that particular plant was "stunted" compared to the others.

Thanks for the response. If you are right, it doesn't bode well. Looked up crown rot, and it affects the soil which should either be dug substantially and replaced, treated with some chemical or pour boiling water over the area, latter would be easier for me.

I can save the seeds from the poppies. They are ratty now but were healthy when they bloomed awhile back, don't know if it is affecting them or not.

It doesn't appear to have spread to the other shastas, but if there's a chance for that, I'd rather not transplant them and spread something somewhere else, have enough problems as it is.

gotta dog ....

look up the effects of too much nitrogen or urea ... which could cause rot also ... pretty identifiable scent if you get down there ...

such are the mysteries of life ...

cheap drip hoses have a very limited life.. make sure yours isnt clogged at this plant ...

the pic doesnt give me an overview.. but is this one right next to the corner of the garage.. and subject to winter salt off the vehicles????

whatever.. so many options ...

when it finally p's you off.. dig it.. and a bunch of soil.. throw it out in the back corner of the yard .... bring soil from there to refill ... leave fallow ...

in fall.. divide one of the others.. and replant ...

do not divide a good one now

ken

Sorry I didn't see your response. I resurrected this thread and will append rather than start a new one. A consultation with the master gardener at the ext ofc confirmed essentially what you and other poster said. Thank you, hard to keep track of threads I start or in which I participate sometimes.

Today I just got done with pulling all the plant up (in sections, came right out, got all the roots with soil clinging to them, in the kraft trash bag they went. Maybe I should have put it in the regular trash because city will compost what's in the kraft bag, too late to worry about that now, hope it cooks high enough not to contaminate somebody else's soil.

Then I proceeded to dig as much soil out as I could. I have to fight tree roots there and other plants, and did a pretty sloppy job of it.

All in all, I filled a kitty litter bucket with damp soil (rained again), heavy, and carried and dumped where the gutters need fixing. Took out as much of the loose soil that was left, hauled and dumped that.

Then I found a half bag of top soil and dumped that in the hole, will wait for it to settle in and perhaps add some peat, compost, pearlite, whatever you recommend at some point or potting soil.

I wish there was something I could drench the area with that won't ruin my other plants (poppy nearby looked iffy but it's that time of year). The shasta next to it looks fine so far. Also an annual lupin nearby won't bloom prolly because it doesn't get enough sun plus this has not been a good year to sow seeds direct or any other way, limited success w/seeds this year. But the lupin does not look diseased nor do a clump of lilies fairly close by but could show up later with any of the rest of it.

I will let it lie fallow over the winter but would sure like to get something in there in the spring. Otherwise, I did the best I could under the circumstances. Hope I didn't gloss over something else you said; you are great to help people w/your expertise.

The same thing is happening to one of my Becky's. However, my whole plant didn't die at once. A stem or 2 is dying daily. I was freaked out!!!! So I took it to the local nursery and they said it looks like root rot and to dig out the clump and throw away any damaged areas. I haven't done this yet (hopin that this will come to an end). Anyway, good luck to ya and happy gardening!

Hi:

Just an idea for something to treat the area with: compost or compost tea. I can't say those microbes will kill off the lingering root-rot, (possibly they can) but the compost will at least "dilute" it. When it rains and dirt splashes on the other plants, it'll be mostly compost that's hitting them instead of the original soil.

I have some compost and will do that ASAP, was waiting for fall and things die down but will do this spot now, thanks for the suggestion.

I'd like to keep the Becky Shastas but get them down to a more manageable size, maybe wait until spring, and put part of another of my healthy Becky plants in there and cut the others out all around.

I've already started that whole area over once and hate to do it again because the shastas seem to be happy there other than the one. Will go easier on the soaker hose, too. Mature plants shouldn't need as much, was doing it to keep my unsprouted lupin seeds moist. Won't make that mistake again, think overall combined with all the rain, kept the area too wet. But still I think it was doomed anyway.

The poppies self seeded and didn't seem to mind whether they got much water or not, less seems better for them so long as they germinate.

Maybe I won't hook up the soaker hose there next year & just water with the hose which is close when needed. I think that's part of the reason they got so big so fast. But they're only a couple years old, and the first year at least daisies tend to wilt fast in the hot sun.

Hope it all works out.