Wisteria wilting

absfabs

Can anyone give us some advice why our wisteria is wilting all of a sudden? Planted about 6 yrs ago, growing well, flowered for the first time last year.
No flowers this year, but all the new leaves are drooping now, wilting, looks like it is too dry. Haven't had a lot of rain recently, but other established trees and shrubs are doing fine without watering.
No obvious signs of any infestations. Just happened in the last 2-3 days, no frost.
Anyway watered it well yesterday evening and again today, but no improvement.
Any suggestions or help very much appreciated!

westiea

Hi
I looked here - as not heard of a mature plant suffering and it does mention that -

Sometimes a mature and apparently healthy plant will suddenly die and be replaced by a new shoot growing from the ground. This is often caused by wisteria graft failure.

can you look and see if there appears to be any problems with the graft area - should be dry, clean from disease, and of course no obvious splitting.

absfabs

Can't see an obious graft area (like on roses), but nothing splitting, no new shoots at groundlevel. Have run my finger round the trunk a couple of inches into the ground, no damage in the bark.
Mystified. Googled "wisteria wilt" last night, a few entries worldwide over the last 2-3 years popped up, usually people asking the question, but no real answers.
Looks worse today. Will probably try feed it tomorrow, but not holding out much hope.
So annoying, you wait for years and years for the thing to start flowering, then it does sparingly (3 flowers last year!) and then it dies!
:mad::mad:

Money_maker

Read recently about a new scale (I think) which attacks wisterias. Will see if theres an online link.

Found it - here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1272054/Killer-Asian-bug-threatens-wipe-Britains-blooming-wisteria.html

peter_the_piper

Sudden wilt is often caused by Vine Weevil. Try gently digging around the roots to see if you can see the little bu**ers. I think provado do a killer so would be worth a try if there is any life in the plant.

absfabs

Had a thorough look yesterday, couldn't find ANY scale insect. Also poked around in the soil, saw no weevils.

Gave it a half-strength liquid feed 2 days ago, even gently misted the wilted leaves and any budding buds with it, but didn't make any difference.
These buds were also drying up yesterday, rubbed quite a few off checking all the knobbly bits in case they were scale insects.

Won't cut it down just yet, but when I do, what do you guys suggest? Perhaps down to a couple of feet in the hope something new sprouts?

alm721

Mine did this a few years back with no reason at all. It did come back though (although you've the wait to flower again). I never found out the cause but I did suspect vine weevils as I was seeing quite a lot of then around. Can you get any vine weevil killer? just in case?

peter_the_piper

Wisteria are a brilliant plant so its worth trying to save it. How old is it? Is it a grafted one? If so be careful not to cut down too far so you do not cut into the bit its grafted onto. If its not grafted then this is not so important. Cutting back some of the growth may well be necessary as its obviously going to be under stress so reducing some of the growth may help, just don't hack it down all in one go.

absfabs

Thanks all.
Will get some wine weevil treatment as you suggest, alm, if there is any chance of it coming back.
I can't see a graft site, peter, wouldn't have planted it too deep as I know graft needst be above soil, unless a few years mulch have built up, but really it's at the same level as the rest of the garden, so no, graft not buried.
What height do you suggest for lopping it off?

sunflowergirl

hello, I agree it could be vine weevil, do you have any strawberry plants nearby? They got all my strawberry plants a few years back and I was worried for my wisteria as it was nearby. I dug about and checked the roots, they were like super size giant white/yellowy maggots and very clear to see as they roll into a ball in sunlight. part of my wisteria root hat gone brittle and shrivelled and I cut that bit away (don't know if this was the right thing to do) but my wisteria survived.
Good luck I hope you can save your wisteria.

absfabs

Yes!
I got 2 strawberry planters nearby (not in the soil like wisteria), one is doing fine, the other one poorly, thought it was because the plants must be in their 3rd if not 4th year.
Will go buy vine weevil stuff today!
Thank you sunflowergirl! :A