I Have 10 ‘golden Mop’ Border Plants. They Seem To…
Tamara Asked
I have 10 ‘Golden Mop’ border plants. They seem to be dying: the leaves are horribly brown and dry. What is it and what can I do?
The Gardener’s Answer
Hello, Tamara: Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Golden Mop’ is a sun-loving evergreen. Unfortunately, from what you have described it does not sound promising for your plants. Oftentimes when our evergreens turn brown there is little we can do to help save them. There are a number of possibilities why this is happening, but not knowing any of the conditions that yours are growing in I can only speculate. Typically when evergreens fail it is due to lack of sunlight and/or inconsistent moisture. These plants demand a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day. They need to be planted in well-drained soil because root rot can be a problem, but they usually they have no major insect problems. You can take a sample to your County Cooperative Extension Service. The horticulture agent will be able to analyze your sample and give you a more specific answer. Their Web site is: hampshire.ext.wvu.edu/hampshire_county_extension and their phone number is (302) 822-5013. If these are new plantings, you may check with the garden center/nursery that you purchased them from to inquire about their guarantee policy.
