Berberis looking a bit sick

namloc · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 27 Mar 2009 Posts: 5

Hello, I'm new here so take it easy. Very Happy

I planted a row of around 12 Berberis Darwinii alongside a fence on one side of my garden in Autumn 2007. However they really don't look too good. One or two of them look healthy enough but the rest of them have very little foliage and have not really grown much. Any ideas on how i could revive them? I'll post a picture of them later on when I get home for reference.

Garden info: I live in a new suburban estate built in 2004 so needless to say the soil is very heavy, full of clay and compacted. We did get it rotovated last year so it's not too bad now. Also there is weed block membrane down where the Berberis is but I'm going to take that up because it doesn't work as the weeds are simply growing on top of it.

namloc · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 27 Mar 2009 Posts: 5

As you can see the Berberis are a bit leggy and twiggy. Any thoughts are appreciated.

Liparis · Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:55 pm Post subject:

That sort of legginess looks like a production problem to me. They've been grown too close together in the nursery. It should be easily sorted though, I would keep my secateurs handy and prune, take off about a 1/4 to 1/3 and try and encourage plenty side shoots to break lower down. Do this as buds are breaking into growth and prune to a bud.
I really don't think you will have many problems getting them into shape.
Bill.

James Kilkelly · Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 1:55 am Post subject:

A bit leggy as Liparis said, so follow what he said.
A bit of leaf reddening as well though which can be seen on cold overly damp or compacted soils in winter/spring.

On the third or so day in a series of dry days, try to get in with a garden fork and insert it as deep as you can go into the soil between the shrubs. Do this all over.
Also do this to the fore of the Berberis by jabbing the lawn.

More on aeration here.... Aerating your lawn ----- Aeration and Your Lawns Health

Stay off the lawn and the area in front of the hedge if the soil is wet, as you will be compacting the soil more.

Applying a fertiliser with a good Phosphorus content should aid with halting the reddening leaves as well.

namloc · Rank attained: Hazel Tree Joined: 27 Mar 2009 Posts: 5

thanks for the advise. Once (if!) the weather dries up i'll have a go at sorting it out.