Just trying to see if I can post a pic.

Here is a link that might be useful:

The bugs may be coming from your mulch. I would try to remove it from around the base of the plants. Also, these plants should not need watering every day for half an hour. That sounds like far too much water to me. Generally plants should be watered only once a week (or twice, if extremely dry, and they are new transplants.) Coneflowers in particular are fairly drought-tolerant plants. The black-eyed susans usually need at least an average amount of water. I do not fertilize new transplants, as they are generally grown in potting soil with some type of fertilizer in it. Actually, I rarely fertilize any of my perennial beds. If the plants are looking really "sick", you could gently dig one or two up to look at the root system. Check for healthy looking roots. Maybe they suffered transplant shock and haven't adapted to your garden yet.

Rudbeckia and Echinacea should not be watered every day for 30 minutes. I would water them really good one day and then not water them for several days. You're asking for trouble with this watering schedule.

I have tried Echinaceas in Miracle Grow potting soil and they hate it. What is wrong with the soil in the flower bed? Is there another reason to put potting soil in the flower bed?

You could probably get some improvement if you'd stop watering them so much. Also make sure the spray isn't spraying the leaves when it waters them.

Must agree with the above. We had so much rain this year and the Echinaceas are only starting to perform now that the rain has stopped. Thought we were going to lose quite a few before then.

I must say the garden center Manager did a good job of 'up-selling' the fertilizers to you. I agree with Echinaceamaniac about the MG, and will add that the addition of compost to the soil should have been sufficient to start your plant off in the right direction. There was no need to buy fertilizer unless you knew that your soil was deficient, and from all indications, that was not the case since you say that all other plants in the same bed are doing fine. I would urge you to google the "ironate", do some reading, and then see if you wish to continue using it or dispose of it properly.

I hope your plants come through and do well the rest of the season for you. :O)

Thanks for the info. I should have said "slow drip" irrigation. It only puts out 1/2 gallon of water in 30 mins. They are new transplants so I wanted them to establish well. In the beginning, if I didn't water everyday several would start to wilt. Now, I turn off the system when we have rain or the soil is still moist. Also, I did not use MG potting soil. I used their Garden Soil variety. My existing soil was builders sand and clay so I had to add a lot of new soil to try to make something workable.

Now that I know everything I did wrong, how can I help these plants before they die. Any suggestions on bug killer? Or do they have a some kind of fungus or virus Maybe?

Thanks

I would also make sure you are planting them high with the crown exposed to the air. Most plants get crown rot if you plant them below ground level or the level of the soil in the pot. I would plant them an inch high. And pull any mulch 3-4 inches away from the crown of the plant, again to keep moisture from sitting on the crown. I am not sure you can do anything now but wait, as it appears that overwatering is the issue, not pests. Good luck!

Even on drip irrigation, that is too much water. Some new plants I'll water every day for a week, but after that once or twice a week is plenty. For your drip system I'd recommend going to an hour once a week or 30 min twice a week. I'd skip the insecticide as the insects are more likely a symptom than a cause. Have you tried to see how far down your soil is damp and whether it dries out at all in between watering?

get rid of that mulch, and i never fertilize my ech.s or bes. You might want to cut both down to the ground and wait til' next yr.

I mulch all of my perennials and have been doing so for years. It keeps that plants moist in drought conditions, controls weeds, and also naturally feeds the plants as it breaks down.

You may have over fertilized your new plants at planting time and sounds like you have over watered. Both of these plants need fed sparingly and don't require that much water to thrive.

Linda

You did everything wrong, lol.

You bought from Home Depot, you overwatered and you fertilized.

Both these varieties like a well drained, drier/poor soil, at least thats what they like here in SE WI.

You should only give them a drink everyday for the 1st week, then slowly back off. By this time you shouldn't be watering more than once a week (and thats if it doesn't rain).

yea, make sure you don't have problem mulch also.