Hi folks, we have lovely Hebe shrubs under our back patio. Some are in full sunlight, some have half the plant in shade, half in sun. As it gets further in summer more of the plant gets exposed to sun.
The ones mostly in shade tend to get yellow leaves which turn brown and drop off or I pull them off. Rather than being a lustrous green in foliage in parts they just look a bit sad. The soil around their roots is very firm. We’ve had plenty of rain recently so I wonder if they’re overwatered, but the soil feels very hard and I can’t tell how wet underneath. They seem to flower very well in Summer and some in full sun are already flowering now, I’d just like the foliage to look healthier.
We’re in Reynella, SA.
Hi Luke
Yellowing of the leaves is often associated with too much or too little water.
It would be worth taking a trowel and digging a hole the bed to see the condition of the soil. if it is dry then adding a wetting agent when you water may help. I would also be adding lots of organic matter (compost and manure) around the plants, this will improve the quality of the soil and gradually improve drainage. If the soil is water logged then you have a problem with drainage, organic matter will help in the long term but you may need to think about creating raised beds or adding a drainage system.