Why are my Japanese Boxes turning Brown?

Question

We bought some japanese boxes about half a year ago and planted them in the ground. It is coming to my attention that they are turning brown. Could it be that it has no shade? I have a theory that it is because of so much clay in our ground. I really need an answer to this question and how may I fix it.

Answer 1

okay. i have got a couple of different results for japanese boxes so i am not going to look anymore. I do not know which ones you have and it appears this species is having trouble being misidentified in some grow texts. One of them says it is a fast growing hedge and the other said it only grew an inch or so every year<<<those way different growth rates would call for way different amounts of fertilizer I think.

When a plant turns brown it can be from various things. Like if you are in the southern hemisphere then it is winter right now and these plants can maybe not take certain weather, freezing winds in particular.

or if u are in a growing season right now, then too much fertilizer can do it.

or too much sun<<<what you were wondering. yes too much sun can kill some plants.

Also driness can kill all plants; some plants can live in a more dry soil than others. i did read one of the japonica texts that said it wants moisture and a little shade. also it wanted a rich well drained soil, which clay is not.

also a plant can turn brown from disease.

Like blight or root rot.

Japonica is susceptible to blight (trim those parts off and then further treatment is optional).

and or if you were watering a lot in a clay soil, then root rot definitely can happen, especially if the hole that got dug was a little small; it makes a little water basin that the plant sits in.

the extra moisture around the plant encourages the blight too. To discourage blight in moist situations, use a dry mulch; watering from below the mulch further discourages ambient humidity. mulch also conserves soil moisture. If the rot is there, the plant may need better drainage. so first water it with hydrogen peroxide (3%) if you have enough<this kills root rotting bacteria and also gives the plant a nice vitamin-like boost. then the next day it can be dug up and replanted in a hole that is bigger and has been amended with compost andor such to make the soil nicer/richer/better drained.

some of these things i can tell from looking at a picture because the plant will turn brown in different ways. also i would have a better guess if i knew how much water it had been getting. what kind of fertilizers it had last. and the temperature/humidity level at your house. also the pH of your soil, because clay comes in different types (i might guess ur pH if i knew what area u lived in).

^^the right diagnosis can depend on knowing exactly which cultivar of plant you have. also the right cure can depend on which plant it is. So if my answer did not do it, then take the above info with you so u know what to tell the new folks you ask. tell them the details i said. also bring a couple of pictures with you and ask at a few of these places:

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=japonic...

Answer 2

You silly............ Japanese boxes?  Why would you put them in a ground? Use them to put Christmas gifts in!

Answer 3

Brown from the top down, inside out, leaf edges??  We need more info.  

Clay would come into play if you are over watering, that is every day and flooding the soil so the oxygen can't get in.  This rots the roots. Are you watering well enough and then pulling back and letting the soil dry a bit?   Otherwise, clay isn't that bad.

If the boxes are against a west or south facing wall that gets super hot in late afternoon, that might be a problem.  Planting them at least 3 feet from the wall, better 4 feet is a better idea, but not as good as planting them in a cooler location.

My first thought was insect problems, mainly spider mites.  These are nearly microscopic spider relatives that suck the juices from the leaves turning them brown.  The often start down low on the plant and work their way up.  You might see or feel very fine webbing and maybe even the critters themselves.  First step in a cure is to blast the plants daily with a very strong spray of water to dislodge in insects.  They don't climb back on.

If you are in the US, take samples to your local Cooperative Extension agent for diagnosis...or to a local nursery.  The agents are advanced degrees horticulturists or agronomists which access to the state university's experts to aid in diagnosis and treatment options.  You can Google (your state) Cooperative Extension Service and then dig around thru the various listings to find the agent near you.  Or you can look in the blue pages of the phone book...often under your county offices, agriculture, or state university.