Is my Ceanothus dead?

[dimsumfatsum]

As the title states- my Ceanothus was in full bloom last spring but it’s suddenly become brown and its last remaining leaves are falling off at the slightest movement. Is it dead? I’m dreading the process of chopping it down and replacing it with something evergreen that’ll provide privacy from next door.

I would wait. Ours did this after very heavy snow sat on it for a two weeks. It recovered.

Is it being starved of light from that tree in the background? It certainly isn't happy but might rejuvenate itself if you chop the other one back

Scratch a little of the bark away and look to see if there is green underneath. If there is it is alive. Brown = dead. They are relatively short lived shrubs and yours looks quite mature. The wood is really hard, so if you need to take it down you'll need sharp tools.

I had a couple of varieties 2 shrubs and a very beautiful tree.
As an amateur gardener I cut back the shrubs and they died.
The tree was stunning until next doors sodding fir trees shadowed it. I moved house while it was still hanging on in there. I wonder if it ever healed.

This is it this morning- I have a feeling it’s gone.

Do the twigs snap off easily?

Up close it’s green so don’t bin it yet

@ohnowwhatcanitbe they feel dry and spiky. They don’t snap off easily- I’ve had to wrestle with a few thin ones to separate them from the trunk but once off, the branches are white and dry on the inside.

@marmaladeandpeanutbutter it only flowered 2/3 last spring and so I thought with no flowers or buds appearing as of yet- it might be dead.

How old is it? Ceanothus are quite short-lived shrubs. Up to about 15 years but I've had at least one that didn't make it much beyond 10.
I do love them though. Not much more glorious than a ceanothus in full bloom. 💙

Mine is starting to get buds and leaves although could be a different variety.

They don't live long in this climate, and they don't produce new growth on old wood, so I would dig it up and put in another one that'll last for a decade or a bit more if you're lucky. They're really nice. Very hard wood as well.

Update: I took it down- the wood was dry and white and as I hacked away it at, I saw that there was a split all the way down the trunk. It’s taken me from 8:30am-now to get the garden back in order again but I’m glad I’ve done it! I’ve planted a cordyline and other shrubs in its place.

Time for a shower and a well deserved lunch somewhere nice.

Cordyline AND photonia as replacements :)

I do love ceanothus! I'm now onto my third and neither of the two others lasted more than 8 years. Glorious when in bloom!

(Your garden is beautiful @dimsumfatsum !)

I love ceanothus too but I can’t be doing this again! This was it in bloom last year!

Stunning garden @dimsumfatsum !
What's the box-like thing in the middle? I thought it was a bench at first but when I zoomed in I saw it doesn't look flat.

Thanks @heldinadream- I’m a known indoor plant killer but for some reason, garden plants have been good at fighting back so far! That’s DCs sandbox- they’d long outgrown it last year but I’ve only just recently been ready to let it go!

Ah a sandbox, that makes sense! It's well placed though, it's like that spot needs a thing in it.
I'd probably whip a paving stone out and pop in a small tree. 🌳😂

Love ceanothus - Concha is the darkest and I've had 2 but they only last 12-15 yrs in my experience - just told DH that when the one out the front goes we will plant a David Austin rose and another wisteria

That sandbox would be perfect for succulents!