MOT
It was time for the MOT and annual service of our nineteen-year-old car, so we drove it to the local garage and left it there yesterday. This morning, the garage called to inform us that the car was ready to be picked up so off we trotted to collect it.
As we were about to leave, I was shocked to notice the parlous condition of the large pyracantha bush between the dining room window and the garage door. At least a third of it had dropped its leaves and there was little evidence of new growth on a normally vigorous evergreen shrub.
I don’t know why I didn’t notice it yesterday morning. Possibly the rain concentrated my attention on getting into the dog box out of the driving wetness.
Anyway, there is much work to be done on hacking back what remains of the plant and hoping it recovers its usual glory. We planted it many years ago, and it is possible that it has outlived its span. The birds will have to feast on others of our pyracanthas. Strangely, they never seem to sample the bush by the front door, which is full of fat red berries, or the yellow-berried one at the foot of the drive.
I wonder if exhaust fumes from the car parked by the bush has contributed to its sorry state, though it seems strange that it should suddenly be affected after all these years.
I hope your plant revives. We get attached to our plants .
ReplyDeleteHope it can be revived!
ReplyDeleteHope the MOT wasn't too expensive!
You gassed your poor pyracantha almost to death! They grow very well here, and the birds spread the seeds very effectively. I think they are a pest species here.
ReplyDeleteHopefully a good cut back might revive it Janice - lets hope so.
ReplyDeleteI find that often giving a well-established plant a good chop is enough to encourage growth. Here's hoping that works for your pyracantha.
ReplyDeleteProbably the fumes over many years did some damage, but a good cut back might help. Unless there is also a problem with the roots.
ReplyDeleteIt's not like you have been parking your car with the motor running for a long time right next to the plant, have you? I often wonder at how plants along the motorway, often in the middle strip, seem to be thriving - and they certainly get way more exhaust fumes than the shrub near your drive.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it really is approaching the natural end of its life, or there is something going on underneath that you can't see.
They do seem to just suddenly 'give up the ghost'. We had three aling the garage, two of which called it quits on life the year we bought the house. (I didnt murder them I swear but I live with the belief the species is trying to murder me.)
ReplyDelete