The reason rosemary turns brown is because of root rot and fungal disease. Rosemary is a Mediterranean plant that prefers dry conditions. Persistently damp soils because of over watering, slow drainage, or humidity, increase the risk of root rot which causes rosemary leaves and roots to turn brown.
Rosemary is a drought-resistant plant that does not require much water. Rosemary turns brown (often with a wilting appearance) because of too much moisture around the roots rather than not enough.
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The biggest risk factors for rosemary turning brown are:
- Overwatering
- Slow draining soils
- High rainfall
- High humidity
Keep reading to learn specifically why your rosemary is turning brown and how to solve the problem…
Overwatering Causes Root Rot (Water Once Every Two Weeks)
The most prevalent reason that rosemary leaves, roots and stems turn brown is because of overwatering which results in root rot.
Consider that rosemary is a herb that is native to the Mediterranean region of Europe.
In this environment, rosemary is commonly seen growing wild on rocky or sandy hillsides that drain very quickly after rainfall. Also, the climate has a dry heat with low humidity in full sun with infrequent rainfall.
Rosemary has specifically adapted to these conditions and thrives in a harsh, dry landscape. Therefore the roots do not like to be in damp soil for long periods of time.
It is often the case that gardeners overwater rosemary which promotes the conditions that result in root rot and other fungal diseases.
If your rosemary plant is:
- Turning brown, with foliage and the stems
- Drooping or wilting in appearance
Then the plant suffers from root rot due to overwatering and possible slow-draining soils. Root rot is likely to kill the rosemary if left untreated.
The solution is to scale back the watering as soon as there are any signs of the rosemary turning brown.
- Rosemary is drought-resistant and only requires water once every two weeks in dry weather. Delay watering till the soil is dry if there has been significant rainfall.
- Do not water rosemary in Winter as it will attain all the water it requires from the environment. Rosemary is most vulnerable during Winter to the fungal diseases that cause it to turn brown due to lower levels of sun and evaporation and the plant’s more dormant state.
When you do water rosemary, always water with a generous soak to encourage the roots to establish which ensures its resistance to drought. Light watering encourages shallow root growth and results in an unhealthy plant.
If the rosemary has turned brown extensively then it can be difficult to save. However, if there are only a few of the lower leaves turning brown then reducing watering can help the plant recover.
If the rosemary is in a pot or container I recommend transferring the plant to a new pot with a potting mix that is amended with sand or grit to improve drainage and allow the diseased roots a chance at recovery.
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(Read my article on how to water rosemary for how to establish the optimal watering schedule for your garden).
Slow Draining Soils Cause Brown Foliage (Amend soils with sand or grit)
It is just as important to ensure that the soil drains quickly as it is to water rosemary appropriately in order to resolve rosemary that is turning brown.
Rosemary thrives in well-draining sandy or rocky soils on hillsides that do not retain water very effectively.
The porous structure of sandy or stony soil allows for exceptional drainage which helps keep the roots relatively dry and therefore prevents the root rot that causes rosemary to turn brown.
To grow rosemary successfully, it is important to recreate the soil conditions of its native environment in our gardens.
This is very easy to achieve, all it requires is either…
- Horticultural or builders sand,
- Horticultural grit
…both of which are available from garden centers and online. The horticultural sand has a bigger particle size than other types of sand which increases the pore size in the soil to allow oxygen into the soil for root respiration and to allow rainfall or water to drain away quickly.
Efficient drainage will allow the roots to stay dry and free from disease which can turn the leaves brown.
If the rosemary is planted in clay soils, boggy or low-lying areas of the garden, or in rich compost that retains water then it is a good idea to transplant the rosemary to a pot with around 20% sand or grit and 80% potting soil or compost.
(Read my article, best soil for rosemary in pots).
Pots have more favorable drainage conditions compared to most garden soils and can be a great way to grow rosemary if your soil is heavy clay.
Amending the soil with sand or grit will create the optimal growing conditions for rosemary and allow to roots to dry out and recover.
Whilst amending the soil and transferring the plant it is a good idea to take a look at the roots.
If any of the roots look unhealthy (dark-colored roots that are perhaps slimy as opposed to healthier, lighter-colored roots) it is a good idea to snip off the diseased roots, stems, and leaves with a pair of sterilized pruners.
- Use a cloth with disinfectant (any type of disinfectant) to wipe the pruners after each cut to prevent the fungal disease from spreading.
- Discard the roots by throwing them away or burning them rather than composting them to kill the fungus so it does not spread.
- The pruning of the diseased roots and stems will stimulate new growth and by planting in new soil (which does not contain any fungus) the rosemary can recover although this depends on the severity of the fungal disease.
(To learn more about the causes of dying rosemary and for the solutions, read my article Why is my rosemary dying?)
High Rainfall
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High rainfall can be problematic as it essentially mimics the same problems caused by overwatering.
Rosemary is native to climates with lower rainfall but it can still be grown in temperate climates that have far more rainfall than the Mediterranean.
The key to growing rosemary in climates with high rainfall is to amend the soil with lots of sand or grit when planting to ensure good drainage which will help to keep the roots dry.
In areas of high rainfall, pots, and containers are more suitable for growing rosemary than planting in garden soil due to the improved drainage of pots.
If the rosemary is turning brown after significant spells of rain I recommend moving the pot under shelter for a few days until there is more sunny weather to allow the soil to dry out so the rosemary can recover.
If the rosemary is planted in garden soil then it may be necessary to transfer the rosemary to a pot with potting mix that is amended with sand or grit as fast drainage will help to mitigate the effects of persistent rain.
Humidity Causes Brown Leaves
Humidity can be another reason why your rosemary plant turns brown.
Rosemary thrives in open spaces and tolerates a good breeze through the foliage which helps to keep the plant dry and reduce the chance of fungal disease which can turn the leaves brown.
If your rosemary is planted in a pot or container, consider the microclimate. Pots that are located in the corner of a patio or perhaps surrounded by other plants that are too close can create a more humid environment than the rosemary.
Keep pots and containers around 2-3 feet apart for larger rosemary plants. This space allows a greater chance for airflow around the leaves for a dryer environment.
I would also recommend planting them at roughly 2-3 feet away from any other plants if you are growing rosemary in garden borders.
This will also ensure that each rosemary has enough room for the roots to establish so that they do not have to compete with other plants for water, space, or nutrients so that the rosemary can stay healthy and free from disease.
Frost Damage
Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean with hot summers and mild winters. It is not a particularly cold-hardy plant (hardy to USDA zone 9) and the newer growth, in particular, is vulnerable to frost damage.
For plants that have suffered frost damage, cut off any brown leaves with a pair of pruners which stimulates new growth and the plant should recover. However, if there are any more cold snaps due, then I would recommend that you protect the rosemary plant.
If the rosemary is in a pot all you need to do is take the plant indoors for the evening, in perhaps the garage if there is space.
Alternatively, if the rosemary is planted in garden soil, then sheltering the plant with fleece or a cloche is the best option to protect it from frost, which is surprisingly effective.
Key Takeaways:
- Rosemary leaves and branches turn brown due to root rot and fungal disease.
- Root rot is usually, a result of overwatering, high rainfall, high humidity, or slow-draining soils.
- To prevent rosemary from turning brown scale back watering to once every 2 weeks, improve the soil drainage by amending with sand or grit, plant each rosemary around 2-3 feet apart for better airflow, and shelter potted plants from excessive rain if possible.
- If the rosemary has extensive root rot, then dig out the rosemary and snip off any infected roots and brown foliage. Replant the rosemary in a pot with new potting soil amended with sand or grit and water once every two weeks.
- Rosemary does not always recover depending on the extent of the root rot but by following the best practices of care and replicating the natural Mediterranean environment in which rosemary thrives (with sand and infrequent watering) then the rosemary has the best chance of recovery so that the leaves are a healthy green rather then brown.
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHY
