Why’s my bush dying?

[Lonelycrab]

Hi gardenists, just seeing if anyone can shed some light or give advice about why this bush appears to be dying? I’ve been here a good few years and it’s been healthy up until this year.

The space below is kept a bit scruffy and unkempt as I have hedgehogs living in the garden, so it’s about 4-6 inches deep with leaves and wood fall at its base.

Any ideas?

Closer pic

Did the really low temps in Dec get it?

Or does it look like there are disease or pest signs on the leaves or bark?

Is it the same species as the bushes either side?

No there are 3 different types in a row. They’re all fine, growing well.

Its survived harsher winters than the one we’ve just had I’m sure.

Just seen your close up, so its very consistently concentrated around the leaf edges. How does the soil feel at the roots? Until recently, we've had a very dry spell, could it be thirsty? Have you tried giving it a good feed and water?

Here’s a pic from a few years back to show how it used to be. It’s the one on the edge of pic.

I think from the picture it's pittosporum, which can get root rot if it gets too wet or waterlogged. I think this winter has been quite wet.

I guess it could be thirsty, it is underneath a large oak you can see behind it. But it’s strange as A: everything else is doing fine along that border and B: it’s always thrived in the last 5 years I’ve been here. Strange.

Thank you @SarahAndQuack

Maybe I’ve left the detritus build up too much underneath it and it’s now rotting. Will pull some away from the base and see what it looks like near ground level.

We did actually have a drier than average winter.
UK rainfall this winter according to Met Office data Seasonal Forecast Assessment – Winter 2008/09 (metoffice.gov.uk) << Ignore the name MN has given this link, it is actually the summary for Winter 2023. These stats are taken directly from it...

UK statistical summary

Mean temperature
The provisional mean value is 4.3 °C, which is 0.2 °C above the 1991-2020 average.

Rainfall
The provisional total is 280 mm, which is 81% of the 1991-2020 average.

Sunshine
The provisional total is 183 hours, which is 113% of the 1991-2020 average

It does seem odd that it is isolated to this particular specimen though, I agree.

I'd wonder if there I something damaging the roots, or disease of some kind which is plant specific.

The soil around the base seems pretty good, nice and moist but not waterlogged in any way. It’s naturally quite a sheltered spot along the fence line.

I do wonder whether the very cold snap we had this winter has killed it. Google telling me it’ll survive-5 but I think it got quite a bit colder than that this year. I’m in N Hampshire.

Yes, but aside from a few very cold days, it wasn't below freezing for long periods, which is one of the things that dries out soil.

Root rot is a known issue for pittosporum. It's a disease, not just roots rotting because they're wet. I think they're susceptible to a couple of other diseases too.

Guess it’s time has come for whatever reason. Have had a close look and there’s no sign of any fresh growth and the leaves that are still there come off easily when touched.

That's such a shame. In your 'before' picture it looked lovely.

@SarahAndQuack yes it is. If there was anything I could do to bring it back round I’d try, but it seems like it’s a gonner. Hey ho. The other stuff is growing very fast and thick so I guess its neighbours will take over.

Thanks @AndrexPuppy too.