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What are these shrubs?

We have a number of these shrubs along the garden fences. I have trimmed them, but 2 or 3 are either dying of quite sick. The house has been leased and the shrubs may not have been watered. I'd like to know what they are as we'll probably have to replace some.

The photo is a very large one in the front garden

Any advice will be very welcome.

CEH

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Comments

BradN

Hi @CEH . I suspect that that bush is some kind of native Westringia, also known as coastal rosemary.

Is that photo of one of the plants that you think is sick? It looks OK to me. As bushy plants grow they tend to drop the leaves on the branches inside the bush. The leaves inside the bush don't get any sunlight so they're no use to the plant.

When you trim a bush or hedge you will typically expose bare branches inside the plant, so it will look a bit bare or even sick but new growth should green it up again fairly quickly, especially in the warmer months.

Do you have any other photos you can share with us? I'll also tag our garden experts @Noelle and @Adam_W to see if they have any thoughts.

Cheers,

Brad

Adam_W

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/22859#Comment_22859

Hi @CEH .
@BradN is spot-on, it is a westringia.
Thing is they are very, very hardy, that's why landscapers love them. They do take to pruning reasonably well although I would hesitate to cut larger plants back too hard.
If they are well established, as they seem to be from that one, they really shouldn't need additional watering unless you are in extremely hot and dry conditions.
On the flip-side, they don't like having wet feet and that can kill them.
You shouldn't have any trouble finding replacements for them.

MitchellMc

Hi @CEH,

If you can post some more images showing the issues you're experiencing, I trust our members will be able to offer some more advice. As @Brad mentioned, from that picture, the plant looks quite healthy.

I'll be looking forward to assisting further.

Mitchell

CEH

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/22859#Comment_22859

Hi @BradN -- attached are 3 photos. I watered the hedge shrubs yesterday, so I can't tell if the soil is too wet. This hedge is about 3 metres from an artificial lake and maybe1.5-2 metres above the lake water level. So I don't think that would have any influence. Before I watered the ground looked quite dry.

lake lake

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/74107#Comment_74107

Thanks for the additional images @CEH. They certainly don't look very happy. Let me mention @BradN, @Adam_W and @Noelle to get their thoughts.

Mitchell

BradN

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/100584#Comment_100584

Hi Mitchell, hi @CEH . I don't know what's happening there, but following on from Adam's point about Westringia needing good drainage / not liking wet feet, I wonder if it's to do with the soil having become too wet and heavy.

Could you maybe push a thin bamboo stake several inches deep into a part of the bed not too close to the base of the plant? If there's any damp soil clinging to the stake when you pull it out, that would indicate that the soil is wet, which the Westringia probably won't like.

Has the area had lots of heavy rain or any flooding this year? Even if the soil is dry again now, it might have been an earlier rain/flood event that injured the plants. Has the level of the lake risen after all the rain this year? If so, could that be keeping the surrounding soil wet? I don't know, but those are questions that spring to mind.

I hope someone else can provide a bit more insight...

Brad

Glockers

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/74107#Comment_74107

we had that and it was because they had wet feet

CEH

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/117167#Comment_117167

Hi @BradN - I don't have any bamboo stakes but I have thin metal rod about 75cm long. At several of the sick shrubs there was quite a lot of dry resistance for maybe 10cm but then it slid in smoothly and easily for at least 30cm, and the rod had moist grey/black soil on the bottom 15-20cm. Last winter there was quite a lot of rain, but I don't think the lake came up much - it seems self regulating, but I'll ask. I should mention that there are two shrubs in the hedge that I think would have been dead for more than a year or two - the remaining branches are very bare and dry, very dead looking.

If this is the problem, as it seems to be, I guess there is no way of saving the sick bushes.

BradN

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/126732#Comment_126732

Hi @CEH , Given what you and Adam have said and the experience that @Glockers has had, I suspect that wet soil might be the problem. Perhaps @Adam_W or @Noelle might have more insight given the new information and photos you've supplied.

If I were you I would immediately stop watering them and see if any of them come good on their own. If you want to plant more Westringia to replace the dead ones, I would suggest raising that part of the garden bed to promote better drainage. But then you would need to be careful that you don't end up with new soil washing off and piling up around the stems of the healthy plants because that can cause collar rot.

Cheers,

Brad

Noelle

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/133106#Comment_133106

Given the appearance of the suspected dead bushes, I doubt they are worth saving. It sounds like the sandy subsoil is at or just above the water table suggesting wet feet will almost certainly be the answer. The top soil may dry out but it is what is hidden beneath that can cause problems.

I'd build up the soil level and then consider replanting.

BradN

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/137040#Comment_137040

Hi Noelle. Thanks very much for your thoughts. Perhaps the common name "coastal rosemary" gives a hint as to what Westringia likes. Coastal areas often have sandy soils that drain quickly, so a lot of coastal plants want good drainage.

Just tagging @CEH to make sure they're aware of your reply.

Cheers,

Brad

CEH

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139754#Comment_139754

Thank you BradN and Noelle, (and others!)

I have talked to my daughter with whom I share the house, and having considered ways to overcome the problem, we've pretty well decided that there is no good reason to have the hedge along the waterfront, which is quite attractive. I've attached a photo which shows the hedge and the water, and we think the best idea might be to rip the hedge out. Perhaps we could plant some shallow-rooting small shrubs or flowering plants in it place? By the way, those grass bushes on the left have been trimmed since the photo was taken!

I'd be grateful if you can comment on that idea.

Regards,

Charles

BradN

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/141612#Comment_141612

Hi Charles ( @CEH ). Is that fresh water or a salty lake connected to a salty river or canal? The level of salt is an important consideration in deciding what to plant.

The fact that your Westringia plants have grown so well there in previous years suggests that they are well suited to your backyard. The problem might be a recent change to the environment in your backyard, such as a rise in the water level or a deterioration in the quality of the soil.

As @Noelle suggested, you might want to consider building up the level of the soil by making a raised garden bed with sleepers or something and filling that with fresh, free-draining garden soil.

But if you just want a clear, unobstructed water view, by all means go for that. You could put in some new low-rise plants, or even just a few nice feature plants in ornamental pots to create a completely different look. You could even put in a slightly raised garden bed and then plant it out with the very same Westringia.

You can always get lots of good ideas by looking at what plants are thriving in your neighbours' yards, and by looking at what the council has planted in your local parks and roundabouts. If you take some photos of plants you like we can try to identify them for you...

Cheers,

Brad

CEH

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/143011#Comment_143011

Hi Brad & Noelle, I've done some research. The majority of houses fronting the lake don't have hedges, whether from preference or because of adverse conditions. I'm waiting to hear from the local authority about the lake, type of water, level changes etc. We've decided to let things lie and see how the remaining shrubs get on. If they keep dying, we'll probably get rid of the hedge and use some low plants or pot plants as you and Noelle suggested. Thank you all for your help and advice.

Cheers,

Charles

CEH

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/143985#Comment_143985

Hi Brad & Noelle -- the estate services have advised me that the lake is brackish (mix of salt & fresh water), and the level rises with heavy rain such as we've had in the past year. It is currently higher than normal. They also said the lot may have a Bioremediation Drainage System outlet feeding into the lake. If that is not flowing or blocked it could result in the wet undersoil. I can't see an outlet but they said it could be under water.

Anyway, all that strengthens my feeling that we'd best see how the remaining plants go, and then if necessary replace the hedge with some small decorative shrubs or pot plants.

Again, many thanks to you and the community for all your consideration and advice.

Cheers,

Charles

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