Chamaecyparis

Question: I live in a condo association of 30 units on 3 acres of land near French Park.  I am trying to identify some bushes which look like they are not doing so well.  I think they are a type of chamaecyparis but I'm not sure which specific one.  I think it is a beautiful bush in the wrong place.  I'm looking for some expert advice.  Should we transplant?  Should we discard?

responder: Lynn S.  Replied October 03, 2024, 9:19 PM EDT
response: Do you have any idea how long this planting has been in place?  What the drainage is under this area is like?  Assuming your plant ID is correct, the only thing I am coming up with as a common disease issue is a Phytophthora root rot.  Any type of rot would be more likely in a poorly drained location. It is possible that the actual soil here is very shallow, with hardpan and/or rock underneath it.  This would lead to poor drainage, and a different type of more moisture-tolerant plant might indeed do better there.  There are many factors that could be contributing to the poor appearance of these shrubs.  The drainage is one thing, soil pH is another; over or under-fertilization, use of pesticides/herbicides nearby, even dog urine may be a factor.   The place to start would probably be with a soil test.  This could identify any major imbalances in soil character.  Doing a percolation test (see link below) would give you an idea about drainage.  Your county extension office should have kits for soil testing. https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/testing-and-improving-soil-drainage#testing  The links below are some information on chamaecyparis in general. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/chamaecyparis/ https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/chamaecyparis-lawsoniana  If you are looking for help in identifying the shrub, taking a cutting to a local nursery might get you an ID.  There are so many different cultivars of ornamental plants it is difficult to ID one from a picture alone. It may even be that the coloration of the shrub is normal for the variety it is.  Close up photos would help, and some of the phone apps such as "PictureThis" are actually quite accurate.  Once you have a good ID on the plant, and know something more about the site, a decision on transplanting vs improving the current site would be easier.  I'm sorry I don't have an expert answer for you based on the photo and information provided; there are too many variables in the situation.  If you want to try some close up photos, I may be able to get a better idea of the type of plant but I will warn you that I am not an expert on ornamental landscaping.  I may need to re-assign the question.

responder: The Question Asker Replied October 05, 2024, 2:36 PM EDT
response: Thank you so much Lynn.  I would like to do a soil test as you suggest, but I’m confused.  I thought I had contacted the county extension office with these calls/emails.  please advise,Cindy S.On Oct 3, 2024, at 9:19 PM, Ask Extension wrote:

responder: Lynn S.  Replied October 06, 2024, 9:30 PM EDT
response: Your question was assigned to the state group of Master Gardener Volunteers, which is run by the OSU Extension service. The questions don't necessarily go to someone in your county (I'm in Erie County).   The website below lists a local number for Hamilton County.   https://extension.osu.edu/hamilton-county-office  I hope you can find out what is bothering your chamaecyparis so you can make a decision about whether you can make them happy in their current location or need to relocate them.  They look pretty big to transplant without power equipment.  Something else might be better suited to the soil and drainage there, though.