skip to main content

loropetalum very sick

casey8b_savannah

16 years ago

I really hope someone can tell us what is wrong with our ruby loropetalum. It's about 10-12ft tall, in a tree form, and was here when we moved to this house so don't know how old it is.

One large branch started looking faded and some leaves died about 2 months ago. Then all of a sudden in the last 2 weeks the entire tree has become very sick. Over all the leaves are curling, fading or dieing. I will see if I can post a picture here

So far I've taken pictures and samples to a few very good nurseries ...told everything from "aphids" to "needs water" to 'needs fertilizer".

There are no bugs anywhere on it I can find, water wise it may have been getting too much if anything. TruGreen has been treating the lawn for grey spot fungus, chinch bugs, and brown patch, as well as fertilizing. Because they have been fertilizing the area under the drip line of the tree I have not done any additional feeding to the tree itself.

Any ideas????

thank you, Casey

Image link:

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
16 years ago
Perhaps, indeed, it is that the root/soil system is remaining soggy. This is a plant that is very drought tolerant once established. Loropetalum can suffer from a variety of soil borne root and systemic diseases if excess water is a chronic issue.

Has TruGreen applied any herbicides along with all of the other chemicals?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
16 years ago
That was my thought as well - the description sounds very much like it could be herbicide damage. And those nasty lawn services are very inclined to spray that stuff around without specifically informing the homeowners as to what they are applying. If not a water issue, I'd put good money on herbicidal drift/soil contamination.
Related Discussions
HELP!!! My Grapefruit Tree is very sick.
Q
Comments (14)
What may have happened is the tree may have gone unwatered for a long period of time, maybe neglect for 2 or 3 years. That can kill back parts of the tree, and it may never be able to fully recover again. If that is the case, the best thing you can do is try to give it proper care now. Make sure you keep it watered during the summer. Can you tell us where this tree is?
...See More
loropetalum very sick: another picture
Q
Comments (5)
I'll post another picture tomorrow rhizo_1. As for the drainage, we are planning on installing some rain gutters to divert water runoff away from that low laying area. Have a few too many projects on the go at the moment but if you tell us the tree is sick because of water we will certainly move the gutters up the list of priorities!! Gardengal48....I did put down quite a bit of dirt right around the tree (where there is no grass) but the tree was already very sickly by then ...but when we were putting in the sod last Oct we brought in a ton of top soil and spread it around the yard before the sod went in...perhaps we inadvertinly have smothered the root system. But then again the tree was doing very well until maybe 6 weeks ago (except for the one large branch/trunk which had looked sickly for maybe 3 months) Thank you both!!
...See More
My cat is very sick please help
Q
Comments (34)
Hello everyone. I thought I'd give you an update on Wuji. I took him in for some more tests about a week and a half ago and we found out he was severely anemic. The vet upped his steroid and gave me some Petinic. The next day after the adjusted meds, I got my Wuji back! He is now eating, playing and even sassing (playfully) his sister. He hasn't done those things in 2 months. He is a lot harder to give his meds to though. When I stick the syringe in his mouth and give him his meds, he just stares at me and refuses to swallow. I've tried to rub his throat but it's still a no go. He waits till the meds slide out his mouth and down his face. I don't know how long he will stay like this but we are so glad his days are now happy.It looks like we get a little more time with him than I thought.
...See More
Very sick Meyer lemon, HELP!
Q
Comments (130)
Yeah I looked for it in the past. Again it seems it is not generally available in the east coast. At least not within 50 miles of us. On the web, the best deal (I think) I have seen is a place called General Pumice. They sell various size grades (sifted and washed) of pumice. The largest bag is 3 gallon for $29 including shipping. I have not yet bought from them. The reviews are good and the product looks good too.
...See More
casey8b_savannah
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you both so much for replying. I've just added another photo of the whole tree and surrounding area to a separate post (see "loropetalum very sick:another picture").
I also added there that it is situated in a low area of the yard. Plus when the sod went in late last year it formed a 'depression' around the tree base and rainwater runoff certainly collected in it, to the depth of 2-3 inches. (Soil drains pretty slow here.) We've added more dirt around the base to mound it up so water no longer collects there...this was about 3 weeks ago.

I will check with TruGreen on the herbicide issue, but would not be surprised if it is due to excess water. So IF it is water related what can we do???

thank you once again.
Casey
0

Related Stories

LIFE 10 Feel-Better Things to Do on a Sick Day at Home

By Laura Gaskill

Nourish, pamper and heal yourself when a cold keeps you housebound, with these restorative ideas

LIFE 8 Sick-Day Activities to Get Healthy at Home

By Charmean Neithart Interiors

Staying home is the fastest way to heal — and to enjoy all the comforts and design details you've spent so much time choosing

FEEL-GOOD HOME 12 Very Useful Things I've Learned From Designers

By Becky Harris

These simple ideas can make life at home more efficient and enjoyable

SMALL SPACES Life Lessons From 10 Years of Living in 84 Square Feet

By Mitchell Parker

Dee Williams was looking for a richer life. She found it by moving into a very tiny house

WHITE How to Pick the Right White Paint

By Kelly Porter

White is white, right? Not quite. See 8 white paint picks for 8 very different effects

BUDGET DECORATING The Cure for Houzz Envy: Living Room Touches Anyone Can Do

By Becky Harris

Spiff up your living room with very little effort or expense, using ideas borrowed from covetable ones

FLOWERS Great Design Plant: Fringe Flower's Star Rises

Thank plant breeders for all the exciting new variations of this useful and easygoing flowering shrub

DECORATING GUIDES Decorating Without Commitment: Wall Stickers

By Becky Harris

MOST POPULAR A Fine Mess: How to Have a Clean-Enough Home Over Summer Break

By Alison Hodgson

Don't have an 'I'd rather be cleaning' bumper sticker? To keep your home bearably tidy when the kids are around more, try these strategies

Get Well Soon: Perfect Places to Nurse a Cold

Sponsored

Miller Woodworks

21 Reviews

Franklin County's Trusted Custom Cabinetry Solutions

More Discussions

Groundcovers for Full Sun Exposure in Clay

6

Is this a spider mite or a soil mite?

2

Is my Echeveria fine?

0

SICK Butterfly Bush - Black Knight

3

Will a bloomerang lilac bloom springtime into fall?

0