Moved a ceanothus bush, how do I rescue it?

carly

I would leave it ,as is , until the spring. I have found then to be slow to show signs of life after moving or hard pruning.. You could snip one of the branches with secateurs....if brown throughout it is dead, if there is any green or paler wood then you may be in luck.  I have the opposite problem in that I have to butcher mine every year or they completely over run my borders.

sheramber

I would cut it back by half . Do not let it dry out  but don't over water it. Just keep soil around  it damp.
Leave it at least for a year. I have been surprised when something  that looked dead for months suddenly sprung into life. 
 The root could be regenerating until thy  are strong enough to support top gowth.

[Deleted User]

To tell if dead or alive do the scratch test.
With a fingernail, scratch some of the stems - you will see the differences in colour between something dead and something alive. 

twopenny

Not sure it's the best place to put it. It's under what looks like Laurels. At least thick leaved evergreens.

And they suck the lifeblood out of the soil for other shrubs so the poor thing must think you hate it.

I agree with the scratch test. I use that on most things. Doesn't mean they'll live but shows if they are alive now and there's hope.

You could tip the contents of a tomato grow bag on the soil around it. They're going cheap now and it would give it some cossetting and a will to live.

Also some Bone Meal to encourage the roots.

silvercar

twopenny said:

Not sure it's the best place to put it. It's under what looks like Laurels. At least thick leaved evergreens.

And they suck the lifeblood out of the soil for other shrubs so the poor thing must think you hate it.

I agree with the scratch test. I use that on most things. Doesn't mean they'll live but shows if they are alive now and there's hope.

You could tip the contents of a tomato grow bag on the soil around it. They're going cheap now and it would give it some cossetting and a will to live.

Also some Bone Meal to encourage the roots.

It's about 4 foot from the laurels. 
I really was only trying to give it some light. It's previous location it was being smothered by other bushes and was getting no light, to the extent it was growing at an odd angle in search of daylight. 

sourpuss2021

silvercar said:

Dead, dormant or alive?

Update?

Curious how this went as may be moving one myself .

silvercar

sourpuss2021 said:

silvercar said:

Dead, dormant or alive?

Update?

Curious how this went as may be moving one myself .

If it wasn’t pouring with rain, I’d post a picture.

It’s alive, it has 2 branches that are about 4 inches high and did have a couple of blue flowers earlier in the year. I’d given it up for dead twice, cut all the dead stuff off and just left it in case it tried again. It does try again, but it isn’t the plant it used to be. 

twopenny

Now is a good time to move.
It's cool so won't be heat stressed and goodness knows it shouldn't be short of water.
You can go even later if it's not freezing when it's fully dormant.

sheramber

After years of experience I have found that when something looks dead I leave it alone for at least a year./18 months depending on the growth season.

I have discovered many things I though were dead have sprouted again.

There has obvioulsy been some growth going on in the roots before there is enough to support upward growth.

ElaniArtin

silvercar said:

Last month I decided to move a ceanothus bush that was fighting for light. 
I know it was not the right season and I was too impulsive.
Since the move I have watered it everyday, but it looks to be dying. The leaves have shriveled up and the blue flowers dried up and are falling off.
Any tips on rescuing it?

These plants are drought resistant due to very long roots usually. These were cut off in the move, and it will die quickly. Mourn, say thank you to your old plant, and move on.

Luckily you can buy another and put it in now not too expensive. It will grow fast given ideal conditions which is easy!

You can put your new plant in a nice large pot for winter in a protected spot and it will double in size -

How do I know this?

Did it myself!  ;D

Just had a look at your photo- might make your bonfire smell nice?