Identifying the Culprit of Stunted or Browning Landscaping Plants

Within just a few days, healthy plants could turn brown, wilt, stop blooming or growing, and more. All of these symptoms signal that there is something wrong within the landscaping bed; time is of the essence when it comes to saving the plants. Three main culprits include a lack of nutrients and resources, a lack of water, and disease. The garden will require intervention in order to heal and thrive once again.

Ensuring Plants Receive Necessary Resources and Nutrients

One problem with established beds is depleted and overcrowded soil. When the soil is void of nutrients, plants will become deficient in many required elements such as magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorous, and calcium. Gardens should be fertilized regularly, especially in poor soil. Overcrowded plants will compete with each other, their roots constantly battling for more space. This overcrowding depletes nutrients and available water faster, while the foliage is likely competing for sunlight. Overcrowded plants, especially cramped, clumping perennials, increase the risk of soil deficiencies, water deficiency, and fungal infections.

Inadequate Watering or Broken Irrigation

If the garden fails to receive enough water, plants will begin to wilt and lose foliage. Even if a plant returns to life after watering, it may still suffer from some brown, dead foliage. Summer droughts and arid locations warrant frequent watering; irrigation systems are popular for this purpose. However, irrigation systems can run into issues as they age. Las Vegas irrigation repair will be necessary for broken valves or lines, but the plants must be watered by hand until the repairs are completed.

Viral, Fungal, and Bacterial Diseases

Infections can gain footing in a home garden via wind, introducing infected plant material, dry conditions, wet conditions, and even vehicle tires. Try to identify any environmental conditions that might have caused an outbreak, and evaluate the damage. Overcrowding, poor drainage, and wet conditions encourage fungal rot; dry conditions encourage powdery mildew. Some infected plants may need to be destroyed and replaced with resistant species in order to promote a thriving garden.