Please help me save my shrubs

11 years ago

Hello, I am desperate for help. A few days ago, I had a french drain dug across the width of my home to take care of a major drainage problem. As such, the trench was dug about 2 feet in front of my line of 7 shrubs. Although I can't recall the name variety of shrub, I have babied them since I planted them as 1-ft tall plants about 5 years ago.

The day after the digging, I noticed a ring of dead leaves around each shrub. I watered them thinking it was either shock from the digging or perhaps lack of water, or both. The ditch did not appear to sever any roots, at least none that I could see of any size. Since then the dead leaf areas have expanded.

Here are some pictures. Please help me save my shrubs. I have no idea what to do.

[IMG]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y75/wchrisma/DSC_4785.jpg[/IMG)

[IMG]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y75/wchrisma/DSC_4786.jpg[/IMG)

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Comments (9)

firsttomato
Original Author
11 years ago
Sorry, messed up the photos. Don't see how to edit the post.

[IMG]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y75/wchrisma/DSC_4785.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y75/wchrisma/DSC_4786.jpg[/IMG]
firsttomato
Original Author
11 years ago
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y75/wchrisma/DSC_4785.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y75/wchrisma/DSC_4786.jpg
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
man are you trying hard with PB.. lol

copy/paste the HTML code ...

get some pruners.. trace down into the plant.. and cut out all dead parts ... you may be surprised.. that if you trace properly.. its one branch per plant ...

they will fill in ...

i dont know what happened...

ken
firsttomato
Original Author
11 years ago
OK trying again, sorry folks.

{{gwi:260195}}

{{gwi:260196}}
strobiculate
11 years ago
Would it be proper to assume the trench was dug with a machine?

prune out affected branches, perhaps some fertilizer...and keep motor exhaust away from them
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
11 years ago
Because the spots are so localized, I would tend to agree with strobiculate that it is burns from the exhaust of the machine that was used to dig the trench. If it were a root problem, the plants would be effected similarly all over. Prune out the dead branches as others have suggested and they should be OK. (They look like boxwood to me.)
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
11 years ago
Is the soil level around the shrubs at the same level as it was before excavation? They look very deep. What is going on with the loose bricks?

Sorry they look funky. If it makes you feel any better about their potential for recovery, it took us 2 years to kill a shrub like that at my Mom's house. Cut it down repeatedly for 6 months, then gave up and put a black pot over it, upside down, with the saucer to block the light from the drain holes. It finally quit trying to grow after about 18 months under the pot.
maximusdecimus
11 years ago
@purpleinopp Opp! man i wasn't expecting to see that this morning. I lived around your parts for a few years back in early 00's. Lived on Fort Rucker for a few years and rented a house in Enterprise for a few months. I worked at a stage-field by New Brockton, right off hwy 84 (back when they were clearing for the new Hwy section). One of my best buds was working at the Andalusia field for awhile. We had many a fun time out that way and in Dothan. greets from Mississippi.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
11 years ago
Heythere, max. Sounds like you know the area well! Waving back!