Question
My pachysandra is dying and yellowing. I live around Pittsburgh. What can I feed it with? It used to be nice. Can I use a slow release pellet or some kind of spray? This is the whole front of my house. (a big area) Weeds are starting to set in because the pachysandra is dying. Help! Thank you for your time. Jill  

Answer
Dying and yellowing plants are seldom a sign of need for fertilizer but often related to other problems such as disease or lack of proper watering.

Lack of water can be a problem if planted in shade of large mature trees with surface roots. Watering under the canopy of the trees with a sprinkler on regular basis can help keep the patchysandra hydrated and healthy.

Fertilizing is important to keep the plants healthy but it is not a response to dead or dying plants. It is part of a regime to keep the plants healthy. Fertilize the area in spring with a balanced fertilizer 10-10-10 (use package directions). You can also use Osmocote 14-14-14 instead (slow release).

Pathysandra is subject to very lethal leaf and stem blight diseases. It is caused by the fungus Volutella pachysandrae. If patches of plants are dying in a bed of otherwise healthy plants, the above blight could be the cause. General yellowing of all plants all of a sudden is probably releated to watering issues.

Both leaves and stems are attacked by this fungus.

Leaves develop irregular tan to brown blotches, often with circular lighter and darker zones with dark-brown margins. These blotches gradually increase in size until the entire leaf turns brown or black and dies.

Browning of the stem at the tip, in the middle of the stem, or at ground level will cause the entire plant to die. Stem crankers first appear as greenish water soaked lesions which gradually turn brown then black and dies.

To fight the blight disease you have to do several things:
- first keep the plants healthy by watering regularily. Water early in the morning and water deeply (for an hour at a time) and then let dry completely. Avoid frequent shallow applications. Infrequent (weekly) and deep applications are needed

- Collect all plant debris and severely disease plants and destroy. Pickup fallen leaves from the fall season.

- Periodically, thin planting to ensure good air circulation and increase light.

- Spray with fungicide in spring when plants start to put out new growth and repeated several times (see lable for when to repeat). This will protect the new growth.

A good fungicide is Mancozeb (produced by Green Light for example).

Summary:
Since Volutella blight is associated with plant stress, attempts should be made to control insect infestations and to maintain good growth and vigor by watering during periods of drought and fertilizing in the spring. Since water favors disease development, watering is best done early in the day so that drying occurs during the remaining of the day. Thick, heavy mulches should be avoided since they hold moisture. It is also important to remove any leaf or plant debris from the bed before growth resumes in early spring.

I hope this helped you on your way to salvaging your patchysandra.

-- Kenneth