loropetalum chlorotic? leaching from new retaining wall?

18 years ago

Hi! This is my first post other than a roll call. I've learned so much on GW! Hope you might have some seasoned advice for a relative newbie.

I fell in love with 3 loropetalum (razzleberri) with beautiful dark purple leaves and fuschia flowers last fall and brought them home with me - planted them in full sun (south-western exposure), in a new bed (asked for lots of good dirt after construction), in the crook garden of a bent brick retaining wall. I loved the color of the purple and fuschia against my particular weathered orange-ish brick.

Sadly, all winter the leaves turned green and this spring some of the leaves are looking a bit sickly yellow green. There are a few (not many) flowers on each of them now in March. I was reading up and saw that loropetalum could show chlorosis in alkaline soil. Yes, I'm guilty of planting before knowing my pH level, but they were just so pretty and I thought I had the site. :( Anyway, it struck me that the wall was built on top of cinderblocks and some of the bricks and mortar might be under (way under) the dirt. Do you think the wall foundation could leach lime like a house foundation? Does leaching happen this quickly (we just moved in last summer)? Am I barking up the wrong tree and they just need a good feeding or more time or a different spot instead?

What are my options? I love the original color combination and the size would be perfect where they are. On the other hand, if they are reasonably wind tolerant, I have another sunny but unsheltered spot that I could move them to, in a future bed that might contain some spreading juniper and a crape myrtle...the trouble with that new spot is that it is in the dog yard and I worry that the loropetalum will be too delicate to stand a chance. Although if I put them behind the junipers, maybe they'll be ok...

I'm going to cross post this on the shrubs forum, too. Hate to see these beauties looking so sad. Thanks in advance for any and all ideas and advice!

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Comments (5)

Jacquelyn8b
18 years ago
Leaching will certainly cause the soil to become too alkaline but that can be remedied. The worry with NEW concrete is that it will kill plantings. Time and lots of flushing will help but that doesn't do much for your shrubs right now. (sorry)

I recall loropetalum liking afternoon shade and being pretty tough. They also do well in containers. Perhaps your best bet is to go ahead and move them before summer gets here. In a year or so, you can plant them at the retaining wall.

Good luck!
corylopsis
Original Author
18 years ago
Thank you, Jacquelyn! I didn't know they could be grown in containers. What a nice option...maybe that would work.

The whole concrete thing was a mystery to me. I barely can wrap my mind around the physical dimensions (size texture color aspect) of live material, not to mention the chemical ones!
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muddy_hands
18 years ago
What about taking a soil sample to your local county extension agent and have it tested? If it need acid, you can amend the soil. You mentioned you liked the size for where it is. When my new home was landscaped she put those beauties around a big gardeniea bush for accent. Lorepealum gets huge!!!!! I was constantly clipping it back. Something to think about. Mine were in full sun all day and did fine. I wish there was a miniature version of it.
lac1361
18 years ago
Miracid water soluble fertilizer acts as a soil acidifier. Works very well. You might be able to get the ph corrected with this product and still leave the plants in the ground.

Steve
corylopsis
Original Author
18 years ago
Sorry for the long delay - and THANK YOU for the replies!!!

I hadn't thought about the Miracid solution. So simple, I will definitely try!!

It's been a few weeks and the loropetalum are definitely still alive and even trying to bloom in their spots. I haven't given up on them, thanks to lots of support from garden web! Two are still pretty scraggly and don't have great color in their leaves, (these are the ones in the retaining wall crook) but two others (I either couldn't count, didn't remember, or didn't fess up to having 4 the first time around) are doing pretty well where they are less exposed - they probably get a little bit of afternoon shade. Don't know if that makes a difference or not.

I've learned so much just by asking my question and reading all the suggestions. Thanks so much again!