Question
Hi and thanks for your time. I live in SW Florida - Zone 9b - not near the coast. I manage our church butterfly/native plant garden and am having 4 years trouble (since planting and replacing) with hibiscus not thriving. I fertilize 3X yearly with palm and tropical fertilizer, including micronutrients, and add acid fertilizer 2X yearly. They get at least half sun and occasional supplimental watering during our dry seasons. I see fabulous/dark green/flowering hibiscus in parking lot medians as well as in shaded private yards that are doing so much better than ours.
My particular problem area is within 5 feet of a young - 4' diameter canopy - magnolia. Actually, nothing is doing real well in that area.
So: can you think of something I'm doing wrong or can it be the magnolia?
I really appreciate the help I've gotten here and give thanks to all of you for your dedication to your subject.
God bless you and yours, MBA

Answer
Mary,

From what you are saying, my first recommendation would be to have the soil tested. If nothing is doing well in the area, I would suspect a low organic content in the soil or some form of contamination.

When you have the soil test done, have them check for the basic nutrients and for the overall composition of the soil. I feel that the area would benefit from soil amendments such as compost and topsoil.

I hope thiss helps.
Good luck.
Ed Gulliksen