By Gee19
Kent, United Kingdom
I planted a Griselinia (variegated) some 12 years ago and it grew into a large, well shaped plant. At the end of last winter I noticed some damaged branches which I presumed were the result of the extremely bad weather we had experienced. I cut the affected parts out but it has continued to die back on one side. Other parts still seem quite healthy. I am unsure whether to continue cutting out the dead/dying pieces (and end up with a very lop-sided plant) or whether I am fighting a losing battle! Any advice would be very much appreciated.
- 15 Aug, 2011
Answers
If the inner bark of the lower part of the stems has been damaged by cold air last winter, they might grow in the spring, but the plant will eventually discard them because they won't be sending sugar to the roots for the benefit of the whole plant. The damage may only be showing up now.
16 Aug, 2011
As griselinia are slightly tender, I would think part of it has been killed off, I would take some cuttings from the part that is still alive, and remove the whole plant as it,s unlikely to recover very much and as you say would be a bit unsightly.
You can take heel cuttings now through to september, put them in a 50/50 mix of peat and sharp sand and put them in a cold frame, next spring pot them up into 3" pots of john innes no 2 and plunge them outside for the summer, overwinter them in a cold frame, and plant out in their permanent position, the following april. derekm
15 Aug, 2011