Q. My Tuscan rosemary is
in trouble. It appears to be dying.
in trouble. It appears to be dying.
A. Tuscan is a nice upright rosemary variety with good
color and density that is grown for cooking and its oil content. It has very
few insect and disease problems. We will occasionally see aphids and spittle
bugs but nothing to get overly excited about.
color and density that is grown for cooking and its oil content. It has very
few insect and disease problems. We will occasionally see aphids and spittle
bugs but nothing to get overly excited about.
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| Tuscan is an upright rosemary variety good for herb production |
Rosemary prefers soils that have been improved with
compost and organic surface mulches such as wood chips. The soils must drain
well. They do not like rock mulch at all and frequently die a few years after
being planted.
compost and organic surface mulches such as wood chips. The soils must drain
well. They do not like rock mulch at all and frequently die a few years after
being planted.
When
these plants die it is usually due to soil problems. Roots have a tough time
“breathing” because of poor drainage. Most of the time these soil
problems cause the roots and stem of the plant to die. The plant collapses during
the heat of summer because roots are dead.
these plants die it is usually due to soil problems. Roots have a tough time
“breathing” because of poor drainage. Most of the time these soil
problems cause the roots and stem of the plant to die. The plant collapses during
the heat of summer because roots are dead.
Avoid
planting rosemary in low spots or where water accumulates. These conditions suffocate
roots. It is possible to replant in this spot but remove as much of the soil as
possible and replace it with the soil that drains easily.
planting rosemary in low spots or where water accumulates. These conditions suffocate
roots. It is possible to replant in this spot but remove as much of the soil as
possible and replace it with the soil that drains easily.
This
particular root disease may linger in this infected soil and cause future
problems.
particular root disease may linger in this infected soil and cause future
problems.