Knowledgebase
Burning Bush leaf edges turning brown #419597
Asked August 06, 2017, 5:50 PM EDT
Arapahoe County Colorado
Expert Response
Becky,
burning bush is a relatively slow grower, and you can't expect much growth in the same year that you plant a shrub. Most of its' new growth occurred back in May, before you planted it.
Just be patient.
As for the browning leaves, these shrubs do not yet have a well-established root system - they were just planted in June. So, on a hot west exposure, you are seeing the browning effects of heat and insufficient water transport to all the leaves. This is not to suggest that you water a lot more. Consider a wood chip mulch, applied about 1.5 inch deep, all around the shrub, but kept 6 inches away from the stems/trunks.
The browned leaves will not recover to re-green, but you should see new growth next May. Be sure to water these shrubs during dry warm snowless periods Oct - Apr.