We live in central Alabama and recently planted new plants in front of our home. (planted in April of this year)
Our house receives full sun until approx. 1pm everyday and is then shaded.
We planted (2) pixie loropetalums on one side of the house and (3) on the other side
The three planted together do not look like they are going to live.
We have watered, fertilized, root stimulator, etc. the leaves just look very dry.
Any recommendations on what we should have done differently?

I have attached a pic of the plant on the left side of our home and one on the right

Hi Christie, to the forums! I'm not sure what is going on with your little Dwarf Weeping Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense Purple Pixie®) Since it's on a different side of the house than the pretty one in your second photo, I wonder if it's not getting enough light or possibly too much direct afternoon sun??

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable with that little beauty will come along with advice shortly!

Welcome to NGA Christie.

What kind of soil are they planted in? How well does it drain? Loropetalums require good drainage and do not do well in alkaline soil (pH above 7). They do best in soil with a good organic content (compost). Does the left side get more sun than the right? The left side plants look "burned" maybe too much fertilizer/root stimulator? Usually they are fertilized once in spring and again at the start of summer (mid to late June) with a slow release fertilizer applied at the outside edge of the plant so as to not burn the roots.

Additionally, loropetalums don't always thrive near foundations and driveways as that is usually an alkaline environment.

http://www.absolutewonder.com/...

Thank you for your replies. I would say yes, the left side of the house may get more sunlight during the day but for both sides after 1:30pm both sides are shaded but the right side more than the left. We used the root stimulator when planted and have used a slow release fertilizer only once (last month I believe).....both plants we treated the same. we moved the rock from around the left side ones to look a the draining and they are all planted on a slope so the water is almost running off of the soil when I water....so they are not "sitting" in water if that makes sense. When planted we mixed in some of the existing soil with top soil and start and grow fertilizer in the soil.

I am uncertain how to test the soil.....

In addition on this same side of the house (left side) we planted 5 encore azalea plants - four of them look wonderful and have grown a lot and one well not so much.
Also, we planted a Camelia in the corner and all of the leaves are now falling off of it.

We are definitely not plant experts as you can see......

These are pics of both sides (as best I could get them)

Hi Christie.

Wow! I am afraid I am out of my depth here. For soil testing, I have info for you.This link is for Auburn University Extension service which serves Central Alabama. These folks can give you the most area specific help and also diagnose soil and plant problems.

http://www.aces.edu/anr/soilla...

http://offices.aces.edu/rrec/ (this shows the ext centers across the state)

Master Gardener Helpline:
877-252- GROW (4769)

Please do let us know what they find out and what recommendations they make.

Sorry I could not be of more help.

Jean

I have had loropetalum look like that and each time it was from my planting with not enough of the right stuff to hold moisture. Could be next to your house with the clearing and the foundation building and the drainage precautions, cthe topsoil got removed. Not sure if yours are too far gone but I would water them more. I have a white that looked like it was at deaths door ..I trimmed it back..moved it to friendlier soil that holds more water and it still looked bad for about 3-4 weeks. Try watering and amending so that the soil retains water..( not saying wet feet )

Here it is now..sorry, no before photo...but it was bad.


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