The yellow leaves are drooping  and some are during brown. Quite a bit of the shrub is still green although the green leaves look droopy. Someone told me it is a privet. I do not know how to send a picture. 

Without pictures and a history of your plant it is difficult to diagnose what is wrong with your plant. Yellowing leaves can be caused by a variety of reasons.

Yellowing of the leaves this time of year can be normal. This is usually seen among the older leaves, as the newer leaves remain green and healthy. For more information on this phenomenon, see Leaf and Needle Drop.

Yellowing can also be caused by lack of water or drought. Not only will the leaves turn yellow, but they will become dull and their orientation will be more vertical and/or folded. Even native plants during drought need irrigation during the summer. To help, add mulch around the base of the shrub to help retain moisture. When irrigating, water less often, but longer. This will allow the water to penetrate deeper into the soil for the roots to take up. On the other hand, overwatering has many of the same plant symptoms as underwatering. Make sure the soil drains well and there is no sign of standing water.

Yellowing can be caused by nutritional deficiencies. Yellowing on older leaves is usually a nitrogen deficiency and yellowing on new leaves can be an iron deficiency. Nutritional problems are hard to distinguish amongst themselves and from other plant problems. Some general guidelines on nutritional deficiencies can be found here: Nutrient Deficiencies in Plants.

A disease or insect problem could also be causing the leaves to turn yellow. Without seeing your plant, in either pictures or a sample, it is not possible to even guess. There are many questions to be asked and answered. If you could bring by a sample and or pictures to the Lane County Extension office, the Master Gardeners would be able to give you a clearer answer to your plant’s problem. Pictures of the entire shrub, close up of the damaged leaves, and front and back of the leaves would most helpful. Please be prepared to answer the following questions:

What is the name of your plant? Do you know the variety of the plant?

How many of that plant do you have? How many have the same problem?

When was the plant planted? Was it transplanted? If so, when?

Where is your plant growing? Indoors, inground, container, raised bed?

What are the surroundings of the plant? Is there a building, fence, lawn, sidewalk, or other plants nearby?

How many hours of direct sun does your plant get?

Do you fertilize the plant? If yes, what do you use and when did you last use it?

Do you use compost around the plant?

Does the soil near your plant drain well? Is there ever any standing water?

How do you water your plant, or do you just rely on rainwater? If you water, do you use a soaker hose, drip system, sprinkler or by hand? How often do you water and for how long?

Have you tried to treat your plant? If so, what did you use and when?

When did you first notice the problem?

Has the damage spread with time?

What parts of the plant are affected? Leaves, stems, trunk, flowers, fruit, or roots? What was it that made you think something was wrong with your plant?

Has there been any construction, excavation, spraying of any pesticide or herbicide, or a weather event in the area?

The Lane County Extension is located at 996 Jefferson Street in Eugene. The Master Gardener Plant Clinic’s hours are Monday – Thursday, 9 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm. Hope to see you soon!