Buckinghamshire,
United Kingdom 
Hi
I have a Fatsia Japonica in a border at the end of the drive facing the road in an Easterly direction. It is about 5 years old and has the protection of a high laurel hedge on one side and very tall confirs on the other. It suffers from 2 problems. the side facing the road the leaves are turning brown and then black and dropping which I think might be because of the cold easterly winds in the winter. Also the leaves ate more yellow than dark green and I am not sure why. It is not dying but is obviously not happy. I have fed it with a multi purpose granular fertilizer and keep it well watered. Can you help please.
Nick
3 Jun, 2010
Answers
Hi
The large mature leaves are yellow but there is new growth at the base of the plant which is a nice green colour. The plant has a fair exposure to the sun during the day so due to this and the cold easterly winds I was considering moving it in the shade of a tree next to the conifers I referred to earlier. Would this be advisable as the conifers would probably make the soil dry in the area? Also how easy/difficult would it be to move the fatsia? Do the roots go down deep or do they spread sideways?
3 Jun, 2010
Ideal conditions for this shrub are sheltered position, out of the wind, in well drained soil, partial sun/shade. Not sure how easy it'll be to get a good rootball of soil around the roots, as its five years old, could have spread a fair way, not to mention a couple of roots probably going straight downwards. Also, conifers behind will be okay, but needs to be a minimum of 3 feet from those trees, preferably 4 feet. If you're worried about moving it, take off all the yellowed topgrowth and let the new, healthier growth from the base take over and leave it where it is. Otherwise, give it a go, first removing all that yellowed topgrowth - if you lose it, they're not expensive to replace, but this would best have been done in March or early April rather than now. Water in very well in its new position, and water every 4 or 5 days in dry weather, more if its hot and sunny, for the next 2/3 months.
3 Jun, 2010
Hi
Many thanks for your very quick, helpful and informative replies. Keep up the good work.
3 Jun, 2010
Fatsia leaves aren't dark green, they're a sort of mid to light green really. The yellowing means the leaves will eventually turn brown, then black and drop off, normal leaf loss, they do this all the time. You can sometimes remove them by pulling downwards, but if they don't come off easily, wait a few days and try again. Remove any brown or black leaves still on the bush - you're probably right about the cold easterly over the winter causing more leaf drop on that side.
All that said, are you saying all the leaves are yellow, or just light green, and is there new growth?
3 Jun, 2010