Question
I have three 5-year-old Loropetalum "Sizzlin' Pinks' growing on a south-
facing sunny slope in Zone 7-8. They are about 5 feet tall. The soil was not
amended before planting and I know for a fact that leftover cement from
pouring the nearby walkway had to be mixed into to the soil. Although they
flower reliably in Spring and Fall, the leaves remain yellow most of the year
and only green up slightly during the growing season. Basically they are
unattractive and I'm wondering if I could successfully amend the soil now and
add iron to green up the leaves, or is it too late to have an affect? Or, should I
dig these sickly shrubs up, amend the soil with humus etc., and plant a
cultivar of Loropetalum that is more reliably purple-leaved all year round?
THANKS!

Answer
Ellen,

I would recommend adding some compost or top soil high in oganic matter to the plants. also check the soil PH- these plants like acidic soils, you may need to add some gypsum or sulfur to the soil to make it more acidic.

Good luck.
Ed Gulliksen