[A Reyt Tayty]

This usually gives a really good show of lime green foliage and pink flowers, but this year it wasn't so good. Now it's all finished, the plant looks really awful. Dry brittle branches, all leaves really shrivelled up. It is an old plant though. Could it just have given up the ghost? There is a Mahonia at one side and a Hypericum at the other, all mingling into each other. Both these plants are absolutely fine. Any ideas what the problem could be? I realy dont want to have to remove it, as it would leave an unsightly gap.

[Sparkyrog]

Give it a feed and cut back hard ! they don't last forever

[maloneranger]

Give it a feed and cut back hard ! they don't last forever

I agree that you should cut out any dead / dying growth, and feed it.

However, I think they can last for a very long time.
I have one that is going strong, and it was old when I moved in to the place over 25 years ago.

[Springlands]

Is it possible that it  affected by the had weather in March - my fuchsia certainly were. As the others have said I would cut out the dead wood and give a light feed - you do not want to encourage too much soft growth before the winter frosts then in early spring give it a good feed again. The other thing to consider is if it is being crowded out by the other plants.

[A Reyt Tayty]

Thanks for the input chaps/chapessess.

Hard prune coming up. They are all mature shrubs which have beeen there a good number of years, so crowding shouldn't be the problem. Mind you if I prune really hard, the others may fill in anyway.

[A Reyt Tayty]

I can't remember: do flowering currant shed all their leaves after flowering?

[Goosegirl]

No - they don't. Can't see from your post what type of currant it is. Black and white currants have different yearly pruning and rejuvenation requirements. My red-currant bush always gets its leaves eaten after fruiting! The two shrubs on either side will be taking lots of nutrients to the detriment of your currant bush. Some Mahonias and Hypericums have suckers, so maybe a sorting and/or re-planting of them if they are that type?

[A Reyt Tayty]

It never fruits. AFAIK it only flowers..............flowering currant.
I've tried to post a pic but It's just not having it. Lots of bright pink flowers with lots of small flowers to one flower head.

[Springlands]

Flowering currents (ribes) are deciduous shrubs which means that they shed their leaves. You need to be careful not to prune too hard or it will not flower next year but at the same time as said before you need to get rid of the dead wood. If you gurgle pruning ribes I am sure that you will get some more information - you could even try YouTube to see if you could get a demonstration.

[Goosegirl]

It never fruits. AFAIK it only flowers..............flowering currant.
I've tried to post a pic but It's just not having it. Lots of bright pink flowers with lots of small flowers to one flower head.

Sorry - thought I was still on the Grow Your Own forum - doh!

[Springlands]

Easily done GG - apparently if you leave the flowers they also produce fruit but I have never tried that. Apparently  they are not very tasty.