Hi Broneyes,

It's pretty hard to know what might be wrong without looking at it, but if you literally mean that you're "water, water, watering" them, you might just be keeping them too wet. Plant roots need both moisture and oxygen, and if the soil is constantly saturated, there is no useable oxygen for the roots and they rot. When in doubt about watering, remember that overwatering does far, far more serious damage than underwatering. You could carefully dig up a couple plants to see if the roots are still nice and white and firm or if they're turning black and getting squishy. If they are rotting, it will be VERY difficult to save the plants. If this is what's happening, don't feel too bad about it. A lot of people water more than is really necessary, and as soon as something goes wrong they think they can fix it with more water, then, when the plant looks even worse, they water even more--so if this is what happened, you have a whole LOT of company ( I have a good friend in Arlington Heights who's been killing shrubs like this for at least 4 or 5 years, but I just can't convince him--this year he put in something that likes water and it's doing very well for him!). The problem with trying to figure out what's going wrong is that both under and overwatering will make the plants wilt--but by the time they're wilting from overwatering, it's usually too late. If some of your plants are wilting a little bit during the day on hot days, but are perking back up nicely in the evening when it cools, they're wet enough for at least another day.

Good luck, and don't give up---this gardening stuff really IS fun,
Skybird

Have you got the barrel oriented so the sun shines into it? Have you got it tilted so water drains out rather than pooling in it? have you got enough dirt so the roots have a place to go....not just 2 inches and then the side of the barrel?
Is the barrel made of treated lumber?
All these things could impact the plants' vigor.
Linda C

Thank you both I will dig up a plant and see what i've done. This isn't the only place i'm losing plants, and now i'm thinking overwater'd everything. I had someone at a plant store tell me WATER WATER WATER. We had a very long heat wave in the mid 90's for two weeks straight. I was hoping when the temps dropped into the 70's this week they would all come back. Not looking good. I've also lost two Fushias after two weeks., I planted four rose bushes and looks like only one is going to make it as well!

If you live in one of the areas that has that heavy clay soil....you well may have overwatered. Were there puddles in your garden for as much as 20 minutea after you watered?
If when you water the water sinks in.....even if you forget and leave ths sprinkler on all night, you have good drainage and it is likely you didn't water enough after the rains stopped.
And DON'T DIG that plant....no sense in causing it more trauma....just dig into the soil near it and see if it is soggy mucky wet. We already know the roots are not taking up enough water for it to live, no sense in performing an "autopsy" if it's not completly dead.
When you say you watered....how much? With a hose? For how long? With a sprinkling can? How much?
Linda C

I use a sprinkler for about 20 minutes on each section of my flowers through out the yard. I do this every morning.

Help! I have overwatered hanging superpetunias. Not sure what to do to save them. I have removed the plants from the soil (in order for the soil to dry out somewhat), removed the dying/dead foilage, rinsed excess dirt from what little roots there are and then placed in fresh water with a tiny bit of Mircle Gro. Is there any other suggestions?

I work at a nursery and I am not an expert, but I find a lot of people plant in the wrong medium when it comes to container plants. You want to plant in something that allows for good drainage, like a potting soil, instead of a top soil. the potting soil is lighter and allows for better air circulation and drainage. Also, I suggest adding some kind of soil amendment (leaf compost mixed 50/50 with the existing soil) if planting directly into the ground. Also, the type of fertilizers people use negatively affect the plants. A good all-purpose fertilizer, like Osmocote for Indoor/ Outdoor) works great. Remember, Hollytone is for acid-loving plants, and lime sweetens the soil. My best advice would be to check and make sure the lighting suggested for the plants is what they are getting because that is the biggest mistake people make when planting--- full sun means at least six hours of sunlight a day.

Good luck. And remember, if there is a drought this summer--- the advice for WATER, WATER, WATER was right!!!

Brenda, the miracle grow was a bad idea. You don't want to fertilize a plant with damaged roots.