Question From: G. Caravona - New Port Richey, Florida, United States
Q: My forsythia plants are less than a year old. They have been growing well until recently. We have had excessive rain over the last month in Florida and now the leaves are drooping and the plants look like they are dying. Some plants have lost some of their leaves and others have leaves that are turning brown at the edges. Could this be due to the soil being to wet or is something else going on and how can I fix it. The plants are in the ground in a normally well drained area. Thank you for your help.
A: Gail, The symptoms you describe sound like too much water. The shrubs may be infected by twig blight - a fungal disease. I would take samples of a couple of infected branches into a good independent nursery ( not a big box store) that sells Forsythia for an ID. To treat twig blight remove infected branches and disinfect pruners with rubbing alcohol after every cut. Then treat with a fungicide according to package directions. Get a product recommendation from the garden center. Do not water the shrubs overhead. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy.
