Question
QUESTION: Hi Nick! I emailed you last April concerning foxtails that were not doing well when I first planted them. I am happy to report they took off this summer and 5 look better, yet still have a little brown onthe tips. However; one of them is facing southeast and is taking a beating from the sun. I live in Houston, Tx. It has been in the 100's and drought conditions. I have soaked them and even used "chelated palm nutrition", for frizzled or browning fronds. 5 responed well, yet this one on the end looks frail. It even had a frond pop up and try to open, but it just turned brown and stayed that way. The other are growning well. Is it the sun  or perhaps something I am unaware of?? Same issue with my miniature gardenias. They have flourished for 4 years and somehow this year decided to dry out and turn brown. They face the south, but have always done well..I feed them also and have an irrigation system that I use regularly. If I lose the gardenias this year, is it possible the root system was strong enough to come back in the spring?? Thank you for your time and expertise.  I look forward to your response as you are always right on target!!

ANSWER: Hi Lana, nice to hear from you again:)...The Foxtail that is still ailing could just be too compromised from previous problems and there really isn't much more you can do then you have already; you sound like you have a good handle on how to care for them, and only time will tell if it is to have an upward turn. Continue to give it "adequate" irrigation (no wet feet) and the rest is up to Mother Nature. The Gardenias are puzzling, if they were newly planted, I would have reason to think they may had been planted inappropriately, but being 4 years old baffles me, to why they would suddenly have a downturn this year; are they planted near each other? and if so, has anything leached into the soil around them? anything different at all this year from the previous 4 years? let me know...Nick

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QUESTION: Good question..yes, as a matter of fact. I had a rock border built around my flowerbeds and I believe the workers may have put the rocks too close to the shrubs?? I thought they would dig up sod and pull the rocks further out, but they went along the line of the existing flowerbed  ..thus, pushing much soil over the root base. I pushed much of it away when I noticed the first shrub browning, but now they all are.  No other new plants or obstacles.  I've fed them gardenia/ azalea food and even pure epsom salt on occasion.  A few months ago, I even mixed "Ironite" with sulfur.  Nothing has changed.  Perhaps a bug or parasite? I don't have my camera to send a pic, but they browned from the top working the way to the bottom. The first one to go went rapidly, now they all are brown.  I've cut them back, etc.  Could the rocks have disturbed them?? Is it possible sunburn?? Oh, they are planted  maybe 2 ft. apart.  Appreciate the relief on my sick little palm and will try to exercise patience. I took your advice before and that is why they have done so well!  The others are growing so beautifully, I just didn't get it.  When I get my camera, I'll shoot some pics for a follow up.  Truly appreciate your knowledge and hope you can save my gardenias!!  Thank you more than yoy will ever know!! ...Lana

Answer
Hi again, I am pretty sure I know what the problem "was" and you corrected it albeit maybe too late, when the workers covered the flare , where the roots meet the trunk,  the decline started, this is fatal to a bush or tree, but it is a slow decline and many people don't equate it with that. You cleared the soil back and  it may or may not have been in time. Prune the dead wood off and irrigate it as needed, and cross your fingers. This is the reason that when you plant a new tree or bush, you plant it at the exact level that it was in the nursery container, not an inch lower! Hope for the best Lana....Nick