Question
QUESTION: Hi James.  Maybe you can help me with the unusual appearance my deutzia has taken this spring.

I have been enjoying this 6 foot plant for many years, and over the past 3 years I have been rejuvenating it by removing the thickest stems to the ground and new ones have been taking their place.  I have had this plant for 12 years, and I have never seen white leaves on it before.

They are almost at the tip of a few of the tallest branches, not all the branches are affected.  The leaves are without any green colour, only the veins are green.  They are the same texture as the other leaves, just slightly drier.  They are not powdery or mouldy at all.

I noticed them the other day from a distance, and I thought they were the white flowers, and I thought it odd because it usually flowers all in one go.  On inspection this evening, at twilight when they really shouted at me, I was surprised.  I took a torch and found they did have green veins.

I have googled a little, and have found that it could be a deficiency in the soil, possibly iron, or that the iron could actually be there and is unavailable because of a high pH.  I don't know what to think, and I'm unaware of anything that could have altered the soil's pH.  It is right next to the neighbour's fence though.

Does it sound like a pH problem or a defiency to you, and if so, what is the best method of dealing with this?  I am worried that its flowering will be affected, and I don't want to miss the display.

Thank you

ANSWER: Hi David, Iron deficiency is my guess, but more likely from water than pH.  Has it been unusually wet lately or have you mulched lately that could cause the soil to be "wetter".  Iron becomes unavailable is wet soils and since it's confined to just the newest growth, it sounds like a recent event has caused it.  I don't think you have anything to worry about.  Certainly check your pH, you should periodically because fertilizer will change it.
If it becomes more widespread on the plant, spray feed the foliage.  If it starts to look better quick, then I suspect water is at the root of your problem.  Jim

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QUESTION: Thanks for your answer Jim, it has given me something to think about.  It hasn't been unusually wet, it is almost always wet here in The Pennines, England - at least through Spring.  It hasn't been so bad really, considering we get floods occasionally, and have for years, but not in the last few months.  I haven't mulched, I hardly ever do around that plant.  There is a small pile of limestone rock chippings, 2 feet from the plant on the patio - I am starting to think that is the cause.  It has been there for a few months.  It shouldn't be there really, I will move it to a container.  I will check the pH, I'll get a tester from the home store.  What should spray feed should I use - just a regular kind or something specialized?  I hope it does the trick.  If it helps, should I expect the green to return to the leaves, or that no more white leaves show up?  Many thanks.

Answer
David, After you get the results from your pH test and adjust it accordingly, I'd trim a few inches off to improve the appearance and by all means, move the limestone. Once the problem is corrected, you can use any fertilizer you choose since we now know it's not water causing the problem.  Jim