Need Help For My Petunias

[lcadena]

Hi Everyone:* I am new to this site but need answers regarding the demise of my petunias.* I was reading Corabelle's post and it is very similiar.

I recently rented a new house due to a divorce.* It is a very charming small vintage home that I actually love.* I live in So. CA it as you can imagine it gets very hot here in the summer.* In the front yard, I have 2 long borders next to the walkway, probably about 15 to 20 feet long and about 2-3 feet wide.* In late May and early June, I planted numerous plants in the border systematically, meaning both types of the same plants on either side.* I am very partial to blue and purple flowers so at the tops I planted, lavender, and some other low blue plants.* For about 3/4 of the planters, toward the street/sidewalk, I planted white, red, pink and purple petunias.* I re-tilled the soil and added fertilized humus to the dirt before planting.* The plants took off like wildflowers and I had vey beautiful walkways until about 5 days ago.* My petunias on one side, half way down to the end, have all died.* Due to the heat and full sun, I religiously watered every evening after dark.* This is the only section the plants have died in and all other plants, including the other side are doing wonderfully.* Does anyone know what happened or what I can do?* When I moved in there were no plants in the borders and were empty for a long time.* Many thanks!

[backyardgardener]

Any signs of broken* stems due to* kids or a ball?

Backyard

[lcadena]

No, nothing like that.* It has me stumped.* They are intact, just dead.* Would pests only attack a few of them?* Thanks.

[Newt]

Hi Icadena,

Congratulations on your new home!* I hope you will be happy there.***:)* Insect pests will often attack stressed plants.* Could it be possible that these were more stressed then the others?* They may have even been stressed in the nursery before your purchase and the delayed effects are showing up now.* It's also best to water in the morning instead of the evening.* Watering in the evening can lead to fungal problems.* Watering in the morning will allow your plants to be better hydrated before the heat of the day.*

Newt

[lcadena]

Thanks for responding.* They have been in the ground for almost 3 months so I don't think they are stressed from the nursery.* If so, wouldn't they all act the same?* All of the other flowers are doing great and have spread and spilled over the walkway.* I'm going to pull them out, but my next question is:* what should I put in their place?*

Thanks for the watering tip.* I just read that somewhere else.* Because it's so hot here, the only time I had to water was after work but I will try to change my schedule.* If you think of anything else, please advise.

[Newt]

Icadena, you are very welcome!* It's difficult to say if all the plants were raised together.* If they were in the same pot then I'd say that's not the answer, but sometimes a pot or two misses getting watered a time or two.* That could be just enough.* Another possibility could be something in the soil.* Look carefully for insect pests below the soil when you remove them.

As to what to plant, I'd say go to the nursery and see what might be available now.* I live in Maryland and our climate is very different from yours.* Consider something that would take you into the fall months.

Newt

[lcadena]

Hey Newt:

You must think I'm a neurotic something or other......I don't know if anyone else enjoys reading about my demise, but I sure appreciate your feedback.** I tempted to plant petunias again in the same place, but I just wonder if it would be safe for the new plants? * Interestingly enough, I noticed the next plant up is dying like the others so I pulled it out too.* I think it's an alien trick to drive me to drink!* It's the first time I've planted anything in years (that wasn't in a pot), or roses, they are actually my favorite, that I've ventured into the art of gardening and look were it got me!*

My other favorite plants are cacti and succulents.* I have several pots of those in many different varieties but unless you purposely try, you can never kill a cactus!*:D It's actually a good thing I have them in several pots as I was able to bring them with me when I moved.* I'm always looking for new varieties that I don't already have.*

Since it's basically always summer here, I know there are a million plants I can plant in place of my dead petunias.* I was just hoping for some type of flowers almost all year round.* I can go with roses but the walkway is not that wide and I did not want to obstruct the small width, but I say the hell with it, I think I'll go for roses anyway.* Are you an expert on those too?

Maryland is a beautiful place.* I was born in the east and spent my childhood years there.* My ex was stationed at Aberdeen many moons ago for about 6 months and I spent about 2 weeks in Maryland at that time.* I absolutely loved it and drove all over the place while he was working.** Maryland is a beautiful memory that I will always carry, but sadly, my ex is a memory I would love to forget.* Ha Ha.

Take care.

[Newt]

Icadena, I don't think you are neurotic at all. I've been through a messy divorce too!* :shock:* Actually, I suspect you do have a problem now that you mention that more plants in the row are beginning to die off. I suspect some problem in the soil.* It could be a pest but I suspect a disease such as botrytis blight, sclerotinia stem and crown rot or bacterial wilt.* Do examine the roots for evidence of nematodes (a tiny insect) and even cut into the stems to see if you see brown spots inside which would indicate sclerotinia. * Take a look here.
http://www.uky.edu/Ag/IPM/scoutinfo/...n/alfsclr1.htm
http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/flower/petunia.htm

Here's what sclerotinia looks like inside the stem.
http://www.oldhouseweb.com/gardening...s/sclero02.jpg

An easy care plant I just thought of for you would be Melampodium paludosum.* I don't think it has a common name but the plants have lovely small yellow daisy-like flowers.* It blooms and blooms all summer and longer and you don't need to deadhead the flowers.* It sets seeds easily and you could probably sprinkle them where you want them to grow the following year. It's drought tolerant.* I realize the color isn't in your scheme, but maybe for next year.* There is a white version called blackfoot daisy - Melampodium leucanthum but I don't know if it's in cultivation as it's considered an invasive weed in many areas.
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/beyond/...lampodium.html
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/c...lion-gold.jpeg
http://twig.tamu.edu/blackfoot_daisy...anthum_003.jpg

If you like cactus and succulents you might want to consider planting a mix and include aeonium.* There are many different colors and sizes.
http://images.google.com/images?svnu...=Search+Images

I enjoyed reading about you living in Maryland.* Unfortunately you would be shocked to see how populated it is now.*

Newt