What happened to this? Did you have it near a heat source? Looks like its been scorched. Do I see a heating pipe/radiator behind it?

Hi Bathgate. I just haven't got a clue why this has happened? It's not in any sun, but in really shadey part of garden. Was really hoping it might come back to life? It's not really near a heat source either. Think the pipe in the back ground is water pipe from upstairs
Loo. It's also happened to the same plant on the other side too, with no pipe directly behind it? I just don't know why both plants have gone all dead on me. They were fine there all last summer ??

OK, I would rule out garden pests. It's an environmental factor - a sudden change in temperature or humidity. A nightly freeze, moving the plants indoors, too close to a heating source. That's my guess. I don't know if this is salvageable. Maybe somebody else would have more knowledge.

Well, Lavenders need as much sun as you can give them, for one thing. Too much shade will weaken the plants and leave them susceptible to other problems. These actually look like ours do when they have been hit with root rot or collar rot. The attached saucers on these pots make good drainage problematical, and Lavenders hate sitting in water. One other potential problem: if they were potted up deeper than in the original container, so compost is around the base of the trunk, the inner bark at the base may have died, which will, sooner or later, kill the whole plant. That is a problem with practically all plants, but Lavender is particularly sensitive.

Ockie doke Bathgate. Thank you anyway.
I suppose time will tell, but I'm guessing it's not looking promising. ?

To me this looks like "sudden death" but Tugbrethil is VERY knowledgeable about stuff like this.

Tugbrethill, I think you may have hit apon two things there. They were originally in smaller pots before i put them in those larger pots and a while back now we had lots of continuous wet weather so they could have been sitting in lots of water then. Plus they don't get any sun where they are now either. Do you think that's
The finish of them now then?

Bathgate, I'm not having much luck with a few of my other plants at the moment too. This "sudden death" thing seems to be spreading too much for my liking!
I so hope it turns into "sudden life" anytime soon, won't hold my breath though! ?

You should see my crocuses after last night's deep freeze. Talk about sudden death...they went from purple to black in no time flat. Now I have nothing... :(

I think there's a chance they're not ready to give up yet, if, that is, the foliage doesn't feel crispy and crunchy and doesn't simply break off when you touch it. However, if you want to save them, you do need to move them to a much sunnier spot, preferably full sun, and don't water until the top of the soil feels dry to the touch. Unfortunately, the primula/primrose requires different conditions - shade and relatively damp, so these plants are not natural bedfellows.

I suggest you clip the lavenders back to remove some of the wilted foliage, and maybe they'll recover. Assuming there are drainage holes in the pots, then lots of rain shouldn't be a problem - not much gets in pots and even if it does, it should flow out through the holes. For plants in pots by your front door, you'd be better off with Sarcococca varieties if its pretty shady there.

Thanks bamboo. I'll take good notice of you on the lavender front and see what occurs. Will also look into sarcococca too. And will replant that conifer then as well. ?

Regarding the photos of the unknown plants not loading. I don't think it's a size issue as the other photos were same size ( I think), and I had great difficulty uploading those too but they did eventually work after Umpteen tries.
Will keep trying every so often. Hopefully it will work in the end!

Bathgate....goodness help these poor plants of ours! ?

Death by root rot or collar rot is certainly sudden for lavenders--one day they look fine, the next, they are wilted, though the soil is wet, and the next, they look like they have been freeze-dried! I can only hope that they don't suffer!

Tug: What irks me is that these 2 plants suffered the same fate at the same time and several of her other plants suffered the SAME fate. Would you think they ALL were planted too deeply in the pot?

Tug and bathgate, I can only hope my murderous spate of killing these plants comes to an abrupt end, as I'm a kind person really. Lol ?

Bamboo, I have finally managed to put the other photos on site. Although they are not too clear unfortunately. Sorry. ?
And I looked into that saracococca plant and believe it or not I think I already have them sitting in the very next plant pots to the dead lavenders. They have black berries on at the moment but do also have a lovely smelling white flower at other other times too. Can you recommend an alternative? ?

Skimmias then - if you want berries you'll need a male and female plant though, unless you choose an hermaphrodite such as S. reevesiana

Thanks bamboo. ?

Just took a look at those skimmias bamboo. I like the look of them especially with the red berries. Would I be able to train them into a standard shape in pots by the back door to take the place of the dead lavender standards, or are they not suitable for that?

Not standards, never seen any Skimmias as standards anyway, so no, they'd just be bushes. Plants you can buy as half or full standards listed here - some will suitable for shade, like Ilex, but keeping them the size you want won't be easy, though Box will be easier - trouble with Box these days is its tendency to diseases but its good in shady situations. Don't use bay though, too dark there in winter, it won't do well http://www.grasslands.co.uk/topiary/half-and-quarter-standards.html

Thanks bamboo ? , I will have a look at that sight as I like standards. And you won't believe it but I've actually got two bay standands already sitting in pots next to the others.
( I three pots either side of the back door ), and they are doing just fine so far, fingers crossed they stay that way!

Bay, especially in winter, does better in a sheltered, sunnier spot, so just keep a check on them, make sure they're coping with the shade.

Will do bamboo. Thank you ?

Mag - Honestly, I wouldn't try to salvage these plants. They'll never look as lush and beautiful as they did before this happened. It may send up a a couple shoots though if you cut it down. I don't think you want to run a rehab center for plants.

So true Bathgate, so true. Ahahahaha ?

Oh Bathgate rescuing plants is all part and parcel of the learning journey. Maggiewilsor sort out the drainage situation. You can buy feet to sit the pot on rather than straight on to the saucer. Look at your planting depths on all your failing plants. It is quite common for newish gardeners to plant more deeply than is necessary when potting on. If that does not appear to be a problem then lift one plant out and examine the roots. It is just possible that something is eating all the roots if they were all potted on using the same compost. Vine weevil do lots of damage over the winter as the grubs eat the roots. If you find any, get rid of all of the compost. Wash the roots thoroughly and repot using fresh compost. If all that fails it is time to say goodbye to them but hopefully you have learned a few lessons as you go along. Primulas are usually the first to succumb to the dreaded weevil, how long since you planted them? Good luck and know that every plant saved offers an opportunity to buy more different plants when they jump in to your trolley at the garden centre. Might be an idea to contact whoever sold you the plants to see if they can offer any clues.

I might just do that scotsgran! Thank you ?