Judd viburnum dead or dying?

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irukandjia Sylvania, OH Apr 29, 2015

I have 2 Judd Viburnum planted right next to each other. This will be their 3rd year since I planted them. The one has leaves and flower buds on it. The other has nothing (I have attached pictures of both). I thought the one was just dead. The trunk near the ground has some damage to it. We had 2 really bad winters in a row (NW Ohio) so I thought the one just didn't make it. I scratched a little bark off one of the limbs and its green underneath. So I tried to snap a branch off, and it's very much alive. Is it just dying? It just looks dead but under the bark it's showing signs of life. Should I just give it another week? I have burning bushes, a dogwood, a Japanese maple, and hydrangea nearby that are barely starting to get leaves. My cascade azalea is covered in new leaves though. Is it too eary to tell if it's dead? Any thoughts are greatly appreciated. These pictures were all taken today. So it is of the 2 different plants.

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Post #10063861
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ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Apr 29, 2015

That damaged trunk condition is a death sentence. You can wait a while longer if you like, but that plant is essentially done - above that damaged area.

There is an outside chance that this plant could produce suckering stems from below the damaged area, and you could wait for those to grow up. Or you could just replace this one.

Post #10063946
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irukandjia Sylvania, OH Apr 29, 2015

Thanks! That's what I figured. Any ideas what could have caused it (so I can maybe save the other one from the same fate?) I had 2 greengage plum trees that did great for 2 years, then one day in the middle of the summer I walked outside and noticed all the bark was eaten off aroud teh base of both trees. Now I know why people put those plastic rings around little trees.... I tried to save them but the next summer they died a slow painful death. I keep trying but I think I kill more than I keep alive....

The base of the viburnum looks like it just split. I can't figure out what would have caused that.

Post #10063949
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irukandjia Sylvania, OH Apr 29, 2015

Actually, I think I figured it out. I do search these things before I post, I just don't search the right things. I found another thread with similar damage. The damaged viburnum is closest to the sidewalk. 2 winters ago we got record snowfall. The snow was piled up everywhere. There was no choice it had to go somewhere. I lost a boxwood due to that too: Now that I think of it I did notice the base of the trunk looked weird last year. So anyway, I think the snow piled up and pushed on it every time I shoveled. And the wind also blew snow right on it: So I'm sure it got damaged from the snow.... Oh well at least I can blame the weather for that one.

Post #10063954
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