The burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is a popular ornamental shrub known for its fiery red fall foliage However, despite being relatively hardy, burning bushes can sometimes struggle and die back There are several potential reasons why a burning bush may be dying.
Heat and Drought Stress
Burning bushes prefer consistent moisture and do not tolerate drought well. Hot, dry weather especially coupled with poor drainage or sandy soils can cause burning bushes to wilt, brown, and die back. Leaves may scorch or drop prematurely.
To avoid drought stress, burning bushes need about 1 inch of water per week from rain or irrigation during the growing season. Mulching around the base helps retain soil moisture. Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the roots. Improving heavy clay soils with organic matter increases drainage.
Winter Injury
Frigid winter winds can damage branches and kill back burning bushes. Location is key – bushes in open, exposed sites tend to suffer more winter dieback versus those in sheltered areas. Pruning out dead branches in early spring allows the shrub to recover. Severely damaged plants may need cutting back to just above ground level to rejuvenate.
To protect burning bushes from winter injury, wrap them before the first hard freeze. Place barriers like fencing to block prevailing winds. Hold off pruning until spring so branches insulate the plant over winter.
Pest Problems
Though resistant to most pests, burning bushes can still be affected by some insects and diseases:
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Spider mites – Tiny pests that cause stippling and bronzing. Heavy infestations lead to leaf drop.
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Scale insects – Armored insects that attach to stems and feed on plant sap. Results in dieback.
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Caterpillars – Euonymus caterpillars and others skeletonize leaves. Repeated defoliation weakens plants.
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Voles – Rodents chew bark at the base, girdling and killing branches. Damage usually appears in late summer.
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Fungal diseases – Leaf spots, powdery mildew, and cankers can occur, especially on stressed plants.
Insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, and targeted pesticides can help control most pests on burning bushes. Remove and destroy severely infested branches. Ensure plants are healthy with proper care to withstand attacks.
Improper Pruning
Burning bushes should only be pruned in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. Drastic rejuvenation pruning, where plants are cut back to 6-12 inches, is best done in early spring. Improper pruning at the wrong time removes the current season’s flower buds and can stress plants.
Age and Decline
Burning bushes can live up to 20 years or longer with proper care. However, as with any shrub, they can eventually become overgrown and declinine with age. Bushes may get leggy and sparse with bare lower branches. Production of flowers and vivid fall color decreases.
Rejuvenation pruning helps extend the life of overmature burning bushes. If plants are still struggling despite good care, it may be time to replace them with younger specimens.
How to Revive Ailing Burning Bushes
Take these steps to help get a distressed burning bush back to good health:
- Improve soil conditions with compost and mulch
- Water thoroughly during drought and heat
- Wrap plants to protect from winter winds
- Prune out dead wood in early spring
- Treat any pests or diseases
- Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fertilizer
- Prune lightly to shape after flowering
With attentive care and pruning, most struggling burning bushes can recover well. But some that are too far gone may need replacing. Situate new plants in optimal spots and care for them properly to avoid many issues. A healthy burning bush will provide years of stellar fall color.
Burning bushes are remarkably tough plants, but they can still encounter problems like drought, pests, and improper pruning. Stressed and neglected burning bushes may wilt, defoliate, and die back. However, by understanding and addressing the causes, most plants can rebound when given proper care and maintenance. With a little TLC, your burning bushes can continue gracing your landscape with their signature red fall foliage.
Is My Burning Bush Dying or Dead?
If you still have bare branches on your shrub, it means some of them have died. As long as those dead branches remain, the plant will continue to try and send nutrients to them.
The best thing you can do is to cut off the dead branches. This will let the shrub send new nutrients only to the parts that are growing, which will help it make new growth.
Some of the leaves on your burning bush may not be there, so cut it back to where most of the new growth is. If your shrub looks like the one pictured here you should cut it WAY back. The top of these branches are dead.
If the plant has leaves but no clear growth lines, cut it back to about one to two feet from the ground.
This may make the bush look funny for the rest of the year, but it will help it get better the fastest.
The bush shown above with all the dead branches on top was cut back to about 18 inches. The next year it is coming back, as you can see in this picture. It may take a season or two before the bush receives it full shape again. The bush was cut back to 18 inches high, and all of its dead branches were cut off. It will grow back next spring.
Of the four bushes in the article header that look dead, only the ones on fire are coming back! Their branches were also cut back to about 18 inches from the ground. In the spring, they developed new growth as shown by this picture. Burning bush that had been feared completely dead was cut WAY back. The next spring new growth returns.
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FAQ
How to revive a dying burning bush?
What is killing my burning bush?
How do you rejuvenate a burning bush?
How do you know if a burning bush is dying?
Dying limbs you show in the picture could be Mites or Scale. Spider mites are fairly common with burning bush. If spider mites are present discoloration, browning leaves, dead wood, and leaf drop will all occur. To check for spider mites hold a white sheet of paper under the foliage where it’s brown and green. Tap the branches.
Why is my burning bush dying?
If your burning bush is dying, it is because there are environmental factors causing it stress. This stress presents itself as yellowing or browning of the foliage, leaf drop, or complete defoliation of the bush. The first and most important step in saving the burning bush is to correctly identify the cause of the stress.
Why are some bushes burning in the fall?
This type of weather takes a toll on humans, animals, and plants. Some bushes have had a hard time recovering. This may include the Euonymus alatus, which is more commonly referred to as a burning bush because of its bright red color in the Fall. The effect of the wind and cold will vary from plant to plant, even in the same yard.
Why is my burning bush turning brown?
Just like spider mites, scale insects also stress the burning bush by feeding on it. Large enough infestations can lead to yellowing or browning of the leaves, as well as leaf drop. This damage makes the infested bush vulnerable to winter injury.
Why is my burning bush red?
This may include the Euonymus alatus, which is more commonly referred to as a burning bush because of its bright red color in the Fall. The effect of the wind and cold will vary from plant to plant, even in the same yard. Location and exposure to wind are some of the variables. Is My Burning Bush Dying or Dead?
Is Burning Bush poisonous?
Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) is a popular landscape plant that is known for its brilliant red foliage in the fall. However, like any other plant, it is susceptible to diseases that can harm or even kill it.