Daphne got sick! - Ask Extension
Should I just dig this up & replace it or can it be resurrected? Thanks!
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Daphne got sick! #725367
Asked September 19, 2020, 6:58 PM EDT
Should I just dig this up & replace it or can it be resurrected? Thanks!
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
Thank you for your question. I am unable to tell whether this is planted in a container, or a constricted part of the garden or ? Could you take a photo of the space or pot it is in? How much do you fertilize and water it? Does it get sunlight, or is it in full sun or? If you will provide more information, we can attempt to advise. Thank you!
Thanks so much for your reply. This daphne is in a planterbox about 2' wide & 3' long, partially exposed to rain but mostly under the eaves of our entry porch. It gets morning sun only. It had done well for several years (maybe 10?) in this spot, and then last year it started looking paler (but still full). I gave it some "bloom" fertilizer last spring and the new growth looked a lot darker green so I put more fertilizer on once a month.I don't really know how much water it gets, I could have been over-watering it I suppose. It seemed to be doing ok until the storm last week when it took a drastic turn and now looks like this.
Thank you. I believe you have the right plant in the wrong place. These are deep-rooted shrubs. When roots get compacted, they no longer can absorb water and nutrients. A lack of nitrogen, especially, causes yellowing leaves. They need more fertilizer than that administered only once a month. Watering them without fertilizing them washes all the 'food' away. Starves them. I suggest you look for a sun to part shade spot on your property, and transplant it this fall. A container is just not the best place. Here is an OSU article about this plant: https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/daphne-genkwa
Good luck!
Here are three Daphne which live in my backyard. Mostly green!
That makes perfect sense. I will transplant it. Thank you so much!
Welcome!
BTW: the most common cause of a woody plant's death upon transplant is a failure to use the right technique. Here is a valuable Extension article about doing it right: http://rocklandcce.org/resources/transplanting-trees-and-shrubs