Modern Vespa

They call me "The Holedigger" in my neighborhood because my wife, who seems to have a green thumb allows me to just dig the holes for her plants and cut the grass. Anything more is unsafe for the plant life in my yard. I know and accept this.

About 6-8 years ago, she had me dig two holes-one on each side of our driveway where she planted identical Lantana, bought from the same nursery on the same day, plants that are supposed to return each Spring. The plant on the right side didn't come back after the first year so my wife transplanted some cuttings from the left. Both sides return each Spring now, but as the photos show, the left side of the driveway grows to an almost uncontrollable size, while the right side hardly breaks through the soil.

I am hoping that the collective brain trust here might elevate my status in our yard if I can come up with a reason for this and even better a solution. Both sides get virtually the same amount of water, sun and shade and I believe she feeds them with a little Miracle Grow occasionally.

Thanks for any and all help.

Not green-fingered here either, but could it be one of these?

1. Does the bigger side get more rain run-off from the mound behind it?
2. Is there a shorter depth of soil on the bad side.
3. It looks like there is some sort of grass growing behind the bad side. Does anyone know if this would have a network of roots big enough to starve the nearby plants?

David

My wife and I both think that it has to do with the tree and plantings along side the lantana that is not growing well. The established root systems of those plants are using up all of the available water and nutrients on that sidled the driveway.

Both sides have grass that border the beds where the Lantana grows. Behind those areas of grass on both sides are more natural areas with various plants and trees of varying sizes. The bad side has less grass and a little bit more severe hill that forces the water to run-off. But not that more severe that I would think that would be a problem. Also, the bad side has a huge oak tree pretty close in that natural area. Everything on both sides seems to grow well, the grass the secondary natural areas, but this one Lantana.

The only thing I know of that runs underground is coaxial cable from the TV cable folks. It actually runs right under my driveway. We are on a well and the sewer pipes go to the back of the house. Power lines and phone come to the house underground, but on the opposite side of the house.

So maybe that oak tree is the problem? Interesting that everything else there grows amazingly well.

I hate that oak tree. Has grown like a weed.

First off lanatana are generally classified as drought tolerant. The first thing I'd do is probe the soil for moisture differences. At the same time note the soil structural and physical make up. There could be a difference there. But being that lantana HATE "wet feet" that's the most likely, followed by soil. Next I'd say possible allelopathic properties of oak, but I've never noted that in any literature specific to lantana. Still a strong contender after wet feet. Miracle grow does little for lantana other than encourage pests. Several butterflies are known to like them overfed and their worm stage will take lantana out stripping the leaves.

They do look very yellow as in over watered. But perhaps that's just the exposure.

Almost forgot. Very small changes in exposure can make a huge difference. I've had two lantana in a single bed 4 feet apart with 2-3 hour difference in shade time have dramatic differences.

The coolest lantana I'd ever seen was at the Epcot flower fair. A 120 year old Lantana camara bonsai.

Thanks everyone. Must be differences in the soil. I guess I'll get a sample from each side and see what that might tell us. We've actually had almost three times the normal rain fall this year, but the smaller plant is actually on the dryer side of the driveway. What's perplexing is that it's the same story every year-one side grows crazy and the other barely makes it. Very little if any differences in exposure to the sun, both are in direct sunlight from before noon until about 4-5pm depending on the time of the year. I haven't watered anything this year because of all the rain. We have some crazy bad red clay, but everything except my grass seems to grow well.

The deer love most everything we have growing in our yard.

Thanks much.

Which (Quercus) oak specie?
How far from lantana?
Same mulch on both?

Most homeowners, in my experience, underplay water issues. I'm still suspicious as others have pointed out about the difference in drainage.

Not sure which species the oak tree is, but it has deep green large leaves that are leather like when they fall on the ground. The oak is very healthy and about 15 feet diagonally up the hill in a natural area. There are Sea Oats, iris, goose neck lillies, Mexican heather and other plants growing happily around the tree.

Same mulch, double hammered in all three spots and replaced every two years. I doubt even my wife will know the species of the oak tree.

There is some literature on red oak and alleopathic responses, as in biochemical responses, to them but the distance makes me want to just about completely rule that out. Having used lantana professionally and in my own former collection brings me back to water.

Great! I knew it was her fault! Seriously, we are usually very dry this time of year, but REALLY wet this year. Guess we will try and keep it dryer next season and see what happens. Thanks for all the suggestions!