Question
Hi,

Last summer we transplanted a mature Red Robin bush from one part of our garden to another, over the winter this area became waterlogged (we bought the house last spring so did not know that this was an annual problem with the garden) the bush coped very well over the winter but suddenly this spring the leaves started to wilt and turn brown - in an effort to save it we raised the bed and bush by creating a raised bed above the waterlogged ground with good quality compost and fed it with good quality plant food.  We did this about 6 weeks ago and so far there is no improvement at all - we don't know how much longer we should keep trying and/or when to give up and replace it with something else.

Answer
Hello Clare

Red Robin (Photinia) likes a moist, but well drained soil.  It probably seemed to cope over the winter because it was in its dormant state, but the roots would have been suffering from the water logging - rotting off in fact.  This would not have become apparent until the spring when instead of showing new growth it started losing condition.

I really don't think that at that stage there was very much you could have done to save it, although raising the bed was worth a try and it might be worth waiting until the middle of May to see if things improve.  If there are no signs of new growth by then, it will be time to let it go.

I'm sorry I can't recommend a shrub for an area that gets waterlogged every winter, but there are lots bog loving perennials on the market and if you really want to plant up this area, it may be worth checking out that option.

Gill