sick Camellia

hi guys- i would like a second opinion with a dying Camelia.One of my customers planted a big specimen of a Camellia on their land- i've never been particularly happy that it would thrive where they've planted it- but Camellias do grow very well here (Portugal and its really hot here currently). It's planted in the curve of a boulder for some shelter and doesn't get the morning sun. They irrigate it well and most of the other trees and plants that we've planted are doing fine. The whole thing has turned brown and is definately dying- i said it looks like the chemicals they have used to kill all the grass in the area may be to blame but they are convinced that it's not the problem- but that's it's rats or moles who have tunnelled underneath it and damaged the roots which are to blame. They have added more soil and filled in the tunnels so hopefully if that is the case it should recover.I think we should cut it back so that it can regenerate but i am worried about shocking it even more, but I do think it will die otherwise, but they are reluctant to cut it back and i don't want the blame of killing it!Sorry I haven't got a photo- but it just looks like a dead plant anyway- can anyone give me another opinion or three?thanks in advance

Ahhh - ringing a bell now! 18 years since I was at college so takes a while for my brain to get going! Thanks!

Miranda said:

Extract from my Botany for Gardeners by Brian Capon, used this book for studies fo RHS.

Mycorrhizae (greek:mykes, fungus; rhiza, root) are sybiotic relationships between certain beneficial soil fungi and the tender, young roots of many species of higher plants including : corn, peas, apples, citrus, poplar, oak, rhododendron , birch, pineand other connifers .
The fungus penetrates the root tissues, sorrounds the roots, and extends the greater volumes of soil than the plant's root hairs are able. The nutrients the fungus mycelium especially phosphorus and nitrogen, are used both for its own benefit and that of the host plant. In return the higher plant supplies the fungus with photosynthesized foods , including sugars.

I always advise to people to leave orchids outside in a shady corner where not only benefit from rain but you might see the fungal strands on the aerial roots.

I also think you can buy Mycorrhizae to plant in with your plants or certain plants.

Replies

HM GARDENS July 27, 2010 at 12:07pm

When it was moved was there companion plants with it or alone, the reason I ask this is that I had a camellia in a pot planted with heather and there was a symbiotic relationship with them, or fungal connection for nutrients , I made the mistake of removing heather and the camellia died.
Shelley Barnes July 27, 2010 at 2:16pm

Hi Miranda- that's interesting. It hasn't actually been moved- they bought it as a large specimen shrub and planted it a year or two ago. Apparently they dug under it to see what was going on when it started dying off- they said there were loads of tunnels, so big spaces around the roots but a good sound established tap-root. i guess this could be the root (oops!) of its problems- that combined with the fact that we're in a heatwave now.
It is still alive- but it's shoots are dying back which makes me wonder if I should hard prune it and then start it on an ericaceous feeding and watering regime?
Cesare Harradine July 27, 2010 at 5:17pm

Could the boulder be acting as a heat trap and cooking it? The mole tunnels look the more obviouse though. If there is no desease to be found, I'd go with a moderate prune, feed and water.
Jamie Sessford July 27, 2010 at 7:06pm

What type of rock is the boulder? A friend of a friend has just returned home from a work visit to eindhoven, he said the roads were littered with dying trees - most probably due to the heat?! I cant imagine a Camelia reacting well to extremes of heat and agree the boulder could well be acting as a heat-trap.
Nick Donaghey @ Garden Gurus July 27, 2010 at 7:55pm

Hi Shelley,

I'm guessing it's used to the summer heat so it's unlikely to be that alone, especially if it's irrigated. As Cesare said, the most likely cause is the tunneling causing damage to the roots.
I wouldn't worry about shocking it by pruning - if the shoots and leaves are already dying then you can't do them more harm by pruning them out. I'd cut back the dead/dying, soak the ground around and mulch with some bulky organic matter ( well-rotted compost or manure).
Good luck!

Interesting about the symbiotic relationship Miranda - never come across that before. Is it documented?
HM GARDENS July 27, 2010 at 8:39pm

Extract from my Botany for Gardeners by Brian Capon, used this book for studies fo RHS.

Mycorrhizae (greek:mykes, fungus; rhiza, root) are sybiotic relationships between certain beneficial soil fungi and the tender, young roots of many species of higher plants including : corn, peas, apples, citrus, poplar, oak, rhododendron , birch, pineand other connifers .
The fungus penetrates the root tissues, sorrounds the roots, and extends the greater volumes of soil than the plant's root hairs are able. The nutrients the fungus mycelium especially phosphorus and nitrogen, are used both for its own benefit and that of the host plant. In return the higher plant supplies the fungus with photosynthesized foods , including sugars.

I always advise to people to leave orchids outside in a shady corner where not only benefit from rain but you might see the fungal strands on the aerial roots.

I also think you can buy Mycorrhizae to plant in with your plants or certain plants.
Nick Donaghey @ Garden Gurus July 27, 2010 at 9:13pm

Ahhh - ringing a bell now! 18 years since I was at college so takes a while for my brain to get going! Thanks!

Miranda said:
Extract from my Botany for Gardeners by Brian Capon, used this book for studies fo RHS.

Mycorrhizae (greek:mykes, fungus; rhiza, root) are sybiotic relationships between certain beneficial soil fungi and the tender, young roots of many species of higher plants including : corn, peas, apples, citrus, poplar, oak, rhododendron , birch, pineand other connifers .
The fungus penetrates the root tissues, sorrounds the roots, and extends the greater volumes of soil than the plant's root hairs are able. The nutrients the fungus mycelium especially phosphorus and nitrogen, are used both for its own benefit and that of the host plant. In return the higher plant supplies the fungus with photosynthesized foods , including sugars.

I always advise to people to leave orchids outside in a shady corner where not only benefit from rain but you might see the fungal strands on the aerial roots.

I also think you can buy Mycorrhizae to plant in with your plants or certain plants.
Shelley Barnes July 27, 2010 at 9:30pm

brill- thanks guys- yep the more i think about it the more i think its the mole or whatever it is- they said there are still some good tap roots but the rest have been munched. i wondered about the heat trap but it did ok last year in similar conditions- they told me today that they have put poison down near the roots (but surely that can't be good for the plant?!) anyway i've suggested we dig round it and put some sort of barrier round the root ball - and i'll do some pruning aswell- thanks for everyones help and interesting about the soil fungi :-)