Clethra

Question

I have put in six clethra plants in a partial shaded area of my garden near a fence. One by one, they are wilting and dying. I water every other day. There were roots from a neighbors trees under ground where I planted them.

Answer 1

It sounds like the plants are having a hard time establishing in this site. It could be from the neighbor's tree roots, or it could be a general soil issue. Adding peat moss or other organic material could help them retain moisture better. Just avoid any manure, which may be too high in nitrogen. Phosphorus is important to proper root development, so a product like Root N Grow may also help. If the roots are the problem, it may be necessary to berm up the area to give plants enough rich soil to establish in