Child Item

Why is my Woolly Bush Adenanthos sericeus drying and wilting?

Hi, My wooly bush which was planted in the ground last September is not doing well. It established well but now the new growth are looking shrunk ( the leaves are not opening even though there seems to be new growth)

Not sure what to do?
The ground is a a mix of clay and I had added new soil mix

when planting plus some compost on top last year. It established well.
I added a 2-3 in layer of mulch few weeks back, could that be causing it to struggle?

Any advice will be welcome?

Find more posts tagged with

Gardening

Planting and Growing

Comments

JacobZ

Hi @gs_p,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is great to have you with us.

It sounds like your woolly bush might be experiencing some stress. The symptoms you're describing—shrinking leaves and lack of new growth opening—could indicate a few potential issues.

Firstly, check the soil moisture. Woolly bushes prefer well-drained soil, so it's essential to ensure that the soil isn't overly wet or dry. Consistent, moderate moisture is ideal.

Consider the mulch you recently applied. While mulch can be beneficial for moisture retention and weed suppression, if it's too thick or piled against the plant's stems, it may lead to problems such as root suffocation or moisture imbalance. Make sure the mulch is spread evenly and not touching the base of the plant.

It's also worth inspecting the plant for signs of pests or diseases. Any discoloration, spots, or unusual growths should be noted and addressed accordingly.

You might find this article from our resident garden guru @Noelle is a helpful tool for diagnosing the issue:

How to diagnose a sick plant.

Allow me to also tag some of our helpful members to see if they have any other advice to give @mich1972, @ChloeThomson, @HitOrMiss.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any further questions.

Jacob

HitOrMiss

it is possible that the plant was happy growing in the soil you added at planting and has hit the clay and is not as happy.
if that is the case, it could possibly be the clay holding too much water, with the soil being clay one thing you will find is, the soil you put in at the time of planting and root ball will dry out quicker than the clay surrounding it, but if you water too much the clay will just hold it all it in, so you may need to find a balance when you water of a light watering around the root ball trying to minimize how much runs down to the clay.
could also possibly be PH, if there is enough of a difference between what you added and the clay that could possibly cause some issues.

gs_p

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/36685#Comment_36685

Can I add gypsum around the roots. Will that go down into the roots and help break the clay?

MitchellMc

Hi @gs_p,

Gypsum won't help if it's a solid clay layer. It's great for adding to soil that contains clay, but nothing is going to shift a clay layer.

Your plant looks exceptionally healthy. Could you show us a close-up of this new growth so we can better determine if there is an issue that needs addressing? It might just be that the weather is starting to cool off and it's not actively putting on new growth anymore.

Mitchell

gs_p

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/36974#Comment_36974

Hi @MitchellMc

Here’s a close up. And a picture I took today.

I think there was a lot of new growth a month back but it’s not bushy, it looks shrunk & closed up. In fact, the entire tree/leaves are looking like they have closed up, they are not bushy like a healthy plant is. Could it be just due to winter setting in?

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/80727#Comment_80727

What does your watering regime entail, @gs_p? Does the soil stay damp for long periods after you've watered, or has it rained?

Mitchell

gs_p

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/104954#Comment_104954

I mulched it heavily about 3-4 weeks back and I gave it a very deep soaking 2-3 times that week. And little bit more in the subsequent weeks - twice a week.

Plus, it has rained quite a bit recently on & off all through April ( in Melbourne).

I have removed the mulch recently to give it a breather.

MitchellMc

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/119579#Comment_119579

From your description, it sounds like the roots are waterlogged, so you should ease off the watering entirely, @gs_p. Only water if the top 10cm of soil has begun to dry out.

Mitchell

gs_p

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/128447#Comment_128447

Hi @MitchellMc Need some more advice.

It’s now been a few weeks and I have taken all the steps but looks like the plant is getting worse. Pictures attached

Anything I can do further?

I am happy to dig it out if needed, if that helps to dry the roots or save the plant. The clay isn’t going to change We can put it in a pot or if needed or open to suggestions. It’s a much loved tree of ours and we want to try and save it.
In the second picture, I do see the needles opening up a bit, which could be a good sign?

Also, will pruning/ removing some of the branches help or not? Not sure how much is OK to cut?

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/134170#Comment_134170

Hello @gs_p

I'm sorry to hear your Woolly Bush Adenanthos is not in the best of health. If there are no external signs of fungus, infestation or disease, it's possible that the roots are soaked in water due to the clay soil. I don't recommend digging the plant out as this will result in further stress.

I suggest using a Brunnings 3 in 1 Soil Meter so that you can determine if there is too much moisture in the soil. Please make sure to use a wooden or metal stake to loosen up the soil to prevent the metal prongs of the meter from getting damaged.

The plant looks fairly established and it might be able to survive this event. At this point all I can suggest is to watch and observe.

If any other symptoms occur, please make sure to let us know.

Eric

gs_p

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/128447#Comment_128447

So I checked it with the Soil 3 in 1 soil meter, as suggested. The moisture reading is 7 to 9 around the plant.

Is it’s advisable to cover the roots with some kind of mat to avoid any rain water going in ( it’s raining quite a bit these days in Melb) ? Can I use some sort of dryer to dry the root out, make holes around the plant to help drying? Any suggestions are welcome.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/134184#Comment_134184

Hello @gs_p

If there is any mulch near the base of the tree, I suggest moving them away from the tree to allow the soil to dry quickly. It is possible to move some of the loose soil away from the tree, but I don't recommend exposing the roots.

To cover the base of the tree from rain, I suggest using builder's plastic to prevent water from gathering around the tree.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Randal

Hi Greg

I know this plant as the Albany woolly bush, and I bought a small one as a Xmas tree and subsequently planted it (Sydney). I've read through the possible answers, but would add that maybe the soil contained remnants of fertiliser, or you have fertilised the plant. Being a WA native it's used to phosphorous-poor soils. I don't know if the commercially available woolly bushes are hybridised to deal with the generally rich soils of contemporary gardening.

The other thing is that it seems very large to be transplanted, and again, Oz natives seem to resent mature stage transplantation (in my experience!) and I certainly wouldn't try it again.

In this situation I would do as others suggested and dry out the soil a bit; enhance drainage; and finally cut it right back so the bush isn't struggling to keep itself alive. It would have to be pruned carefully, as a lot of Oz natives are woody and don't regenerate from the wood, but it may work. Winter is shutdown time anyway, and this may reduce the stress.

All the best. Keep us posted.

gs_p

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/37589#Comment_37589

Thanks for the detailed answer.

I am trying to o dry the plants out by covering with a plastic sheet as suggested by one of the experts here.

Any tips on how to prune, I am struggling with it; don’t want to prune too much. I’ve only brushed out the dead bits but not cut anything as I am not sure how to?
They aren’t any videos online for Wooly Bush pruning.

JacobZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/81031#Comment_81031

Hi @gs_p,

To start with, make sure to use clean, sharp pruning shears. Clean cuts will regenerate much faster than rough ones and clean tools will help stop the spread of disease.

Start by cutting off any dead or damaged branches where no new growth is present. These branches are simply taking up space where new growth is possible, so removing them will allow new growth to come through.

Once the dead or damaged branches are removed trim about one-third of the new growth to keep the plant bushy. Make cuts just above where a leaf is attached to the stem and avoid cutting into the old, woody parts of the plant.

Check the plant regularly for any new dead or damaged parts to remove and water the plant well after pruning.

You might like to check out these handy articles for some further guidance:

Allow me to tag some of our resident gardeners to see if they have any tips to add, @Noelle, @mich1972, @Jewelleryrescue

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

gs_p

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/105170#Comment_105170

Thanks. Since the plants is already too wet & I am working on drying it out, would be it ok to prune as per the tips you gave but not water afterwards.

JacobZ

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/119723#Comment_119723

Hi @gs_p,

Absolutely, if you are happy that the plant is getting enough water then there is no need to worry about additional watering.

The reason for this tip is that when the plant is "damaged" via pruning, it will use the water available to it to heal and regenerate the damage to itself. It's similar to how when you are sick, one of the most important things to do is keep up your hydration as your body will use it to fight the nasties.

If the soil is still damp around the base of the plant, there is no additional requirement for watering, but it is definitely worth checking.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

Randal

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/81031#Comment_81031

Hi Greg

As Eric suggested, you can reduce too much water getting to the plant's roots by covering the surrounding area with builder's plastic. On the other hand, that in itself will help conserve moisture in the soil -- thinking of commercial strawberry growers here -- as water can't evaporate. Are you able to keep an eye on the weather? Maybe only put down plastic when rain is due. The bush's origin in southwest WA means it's used to cool rainy weather, though that unfortunately is changing now.

Regarding pruning, Jacob's list of references is a go-to. You can also google pruning Australian natives, as they do tend to get woody in the centre and won't regenerate from the dry wood. Any experts on this, please correct me if this is not so! Plants like banksias, callistemons / bottle brush, get woody. There's unlikely to be anything specific to woolly bush, I think.

Randal

Child Item