How to revive Albany Woolly Bush?

[BarbW]

Any help with saving my Albany Woolly Bush would be much appreciated.  It was very healthy until a couple of weeks ago but now not so much.  Thank you

[EricL]

Hello @BarbW 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your Albany Woolly Bush.

Can you please provide us with a little bit more information in regards to your Albany Woolly Bush. How often do you water it? Have you applied fertilizer to it recently? Has anyone been spraying or using herbicide or heavy chemical sprays in the vicinity. Any other information you can tell us about what's been happening these past few weeks allow us to give you a better diagnosis in regards to what's happening to the plant. 

I also suggest having a look at this guide - How to diagnose a sick plant by @Noelle

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[BarbW]

Hi Eric, I'm sorry for the late response - somehow I missed your message.

The reticulation comes on to water the Albany Woolly Bush twice a week and it gets watered twice in between my watering days. I have applied Osmocote Native only once or twice and put mulch around it in December as I was going away.  It was still looking very health in January. I have to wonder why the one that wasn't as big and healthy as this one and is only a couple of metres away is still looking healthy even though they've been treated the same.  The sick one did mysteriously have a broken branch and started leaning to one side - I assumed that was caused by the wind so I staked it?

Since posting about this, I've realised it was quite dry - some branches were very low (ground level) which I though may have been restricting the water from getting to the roots, so I've cut the off. There's still a tinge of green in some of the branches but I'm not sure if I'm going to able to save it.

Kind regards

Barb

[EricL]

Hello @BarbW 

Your Albany Woolly Bush seems to be struggling despite receiving the same care as the nearby healthy one. The sudden decline, especially after a broken branch and the plant leaning, suggests possible root disturbance, water stress, or environmental factors at play.
 

Sandy soil drains quickly, which can lead to dehydration if water isn't penetrating deep enough. Even with regular watering, the roots may not be absorbing enough moisture, especially if some lower branches were blocking access. Cutting them off was a good step, but the plant may still need deep soaking to recover. A slow trickle of water for 20–30 minutes once or twice a week could be more effective than frequent light watering.
 

If the plant began declining soon after the broken branch incident, root damage could be a factor. In sandy soil, a weakened root system can struggle to re-establish, leading to stress and dieback. Staking can help stabilize the plant, but it may take time for it to recover fully. Applying a liquid seaweed tonic like Seasol can support root health and encourage new growth.
 

Environmental stress, particularly from heat and wind, may also have contributed. January and February can be harsh on plants in sandy soils, and if the Woolly Bush was already weakened, it may have struggled more than its neighbour. Ensuring the mulch is not piled against the trunk will help prevent rot while still keeping the roots insulated.
 

Since some branches still show a tinge of green, there’s hope for recovery. Continue deep watering, apply a seaweed tonic, and monitor for pests or disease. If no improvement is seen over the next few weeks, you may need to assess whether the root system is too compromised to recover. Let me know if you notice any further changes.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[BarbW]

Great - thanks for your help Eric