Hi

I planted 3 sunshine privet in full sun last spring in nj. They looked great all spring and summer, until fall when the topmost healthy leaves started to drop. By the end of fall going into winter there were no leaves left. This spring they look dead but I don't think they are cause if I scratch the bark it's green and the plants are pliable and bendy. I see a few buds and leaves ...like 5 leaves....Are they dying? If there are evergreens why would this happen?

Thanks
H

Can you post a picture??



Cheers😀

Mindi

If the top most leaves were "healthy" they would not drop.
Pictures would help. Some privets do drop a load of leaves over the winter. I am not sure about yours.
But I imagine with Spring being late this year, they will leaf out and be fine.

Sure! All three look like this. Like dead twigs. Tops are brown and a bit less pliable than the bottom. Only on the bottom third of the plant do I see what looks like buds and has green beneath the bark. Not really sure if they are just starting to live or just finishing up dying. Thanks!!!!

H

There is one possibility. You plants suffered from some winter die back. Damage was due to the cold winter.
I would say give them a couple of weeks to leaf out a little more and then prune back all that is dead from up top.
Fertilize them just a little and that should help them grow a bit fuller.

Thank you!! I'll do that.

Thanks for the help.

H

Its 2019...this happened again!! Its mid June and I have like 3 leaves on twigs :(. Anyone have these same shrubs and are they deciduous for you or evergreen?

Thanks

I had almost the same appearance and thought it was due to over watering until I caught deer in my front yard chewing off the leaves.