Near my house I have a couple of bird feeders. Right by them is a rotting log out of which is growing a red huckleberry as well as some salal. They are dying and I have already cut out some of the dead salal. I don't see this anywhere else in the wooded areas I have. Could the sunflower seed shells being doing this? I know they can be a problem with some plants. I haven't had a problem with them and nearby sedums, sage, mugho pine, etc in another location. Thank you for your help. A.
Might have something to do with the path to the feeder. The soil has been compacted and part of the shrub has been cut away to increase access, the additional dieback could be adjacent to the previously cut part and related. Or, location of dieback could be coincidental. Heath family shrubs such as these are prone to rotting of roots and dying back of branches due to water mold infestations. Compaction of root zones and exposure of root zones to sun can make them more prone to root problems. Walking frequently near them might also track in a pathogen, birds would also seem to have at least a little potential for spreading such things around - any agent that might pick up and transport bits of contaminated soil.
So you don't think it is related to the sunflower seed shells. Good. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, Ron. I had not considered these ideas! Learning all the time, A.
