my clematis was in bloom and then a week later totally dead. I can see no cuts on stem or any apparent reason for it to die. I did add some cedar mulch to the garden it is planted in.

@Angelsparkley Welcome to NGA Margaret

I noticed you mentioned cedar mulch. I read this article a couple days ago, and it mentioned that "red cedar mulch" was actually arbor vitae dyed orange. Could this be the mulch you used? Here is the article:

https://laidbackgardener.wordp...

Moon - butting in - thanks for posting that bit on dyed arborvitae. Had no idea! Explains why the one bag of red cedar mulch I bought claimed to be certified red cedar mulch.

had no idea!

Shadegardener said:Moon - butting in - thanks for posting that bit on dyed arborvitae. Had no idea! Explains why the one bag of red cedar mulch I bought claimed to be certified red cedar mulch.

I'm only guessing here but I would say yours is genuine cedar, and they put the certified designation to distinguish it from the arborvitae "fakes".

I was completely surprised by that info. After reading that and seeing Margaret's picture, it just clicked. I did not know that arborvitae was rather like juglone Black Walnut) in that respect.

Not a problem Cindy. I reckon we will have to start reading every label again, even the ones we thought we were familiar with. I am always open to comment/correction/added info.

I agree with Jay, you are lucky that the bag was labeled Cindy.

I found this article interesting but a bit confusing. Some arborvitae are cedars by name but some are Thuja and contain Thujone but are called cedar.

https://uconnladybug.wordpress...

I am lucky! Otherwise I might have ended up with some dead plants. I generally only use shredded leaves for mulch so am totally unfamiliar with some of the current mulch choices except that dyed = bad.

UGH!! The only reason I said it was. Dear is that it smelled like a cedar closet after it was put down. My lawn guy got it for me so it was not in bags. The only thing I can add is that I have four other clematis in the same garden and they seem to be fine so far. The one that has died was only put in last year however.

Please do not give up on the clematis! The most important part of any plant is the roots. Move it to another spot (without that particular mulch) and give it a drink of Epsom Salt (one tablespoon to a gallon of lukewarm water) and you should see new growth in a few weeks.

well I just put down a bunch of dark brow dyed mulch, is that bad like the red/orange colored one?

It isn't the color as much as what material the actual mulch and dye are made of.

http://www.doityourself.com/st...

http://www.naturescapes-pa.com...

http://www.donnan.com/dyed-mul...

well I bought some bagged mulch from Lowes and now I have poisoned my plants
I have iris, drift roses, russian sage, daylilies and nandinas, they are all pretty tough plants and are established so hopefully will be ok. I only mulched them because they are on a slope and it washes some and thought the mulch would help keep the soil in place and keep it more moist because it is full sun w no shade at all.

I will avoid using this stuff in the future. To be honest I don't like the dyed look at all, but I just got it because it was cheaper, and sometimes they sell the broken bags for half price. Will probably just pass from here out.

I do hope everything continues to thrive.

Me, too!