How should I rejuvenate my poor camellia?
QMy camellia has yellowing leaves even though I water it regularly. How can I restore its vitality? It is in the ground, not in a pot.
Tracey Chalmers, Dunkeswell, Somerset
AYellowing leaves usually suggests a nutrient deficiency. If I tell you the conditions that are ideal for a camellia, you might be able to identify whether something is not quite right.
Camellias are usually best grown in a spot with a westerly or sheltered northerly aspect, either against a wall or under trees that can provide some frost protection. They don’t like windy sites.
They need a slightly acidic soil and in soil with the wrong pH the leaves tend to be small and yellow between the veins.
The soil should be kept moist throughout the year – they cannot tolerate drought or waterlogged conditions. If your soil has a tendency to dry out, your shrub will benefit from mulching with bulky organic matter such as well-rotted compost or manure.
This is best applied in early spring and the mulch should be spread over the whole root zone (which probably extends as wide as the branch system). Avoid it touching the stem.
It is more difficult if your soil has a tendency to sit wet through the winter, though mulching will eventually help by increasing the amount of organic matter present over time as it improves the drainage and soil aeration.
Feed camellias in April as the plant is coming back into growth after winter. It will also help to support the plant after flowering. Apply a balanced fertiliser, or one designed for trees and shrubs, before mulching. It might be worth giving a second application in early summer if the plant is struggling, but don’t feed after the end of July.
Cutting back any shrub will expose more of the soil beneath to rain and nutrients, but it really shouldn’t be necessary unless you suspect something in the soil is limiting root growth. Pruning is best done in March or April as the plant starts back into growth.