Dying rosemary?

i've got a rosemary bush which has very suddenly suffered a lot of die back with many stems gone brown. Other stems seem fine and healthy? It's only a few years old. Any ideas what's caused this?

Dying rosemary?
Rosemary can just turn up it's toes for no reason whatsoever. If there is any live material left later in the season take a few cuttings and start afresh.
Reply:Rosemary shrubs are more delicate than they appear to be. They do not like very cold winters, very wet conditions or very windy positions.


Choose a position sheltered from the wind and soil that is well-drained. When subjected to strong winds, the woody stems are liable to split at or below soil level resulting in those affected stems dying off. I suggest the bush should have all-round support from the wind such as the green plastic covered wire border 'fencing', 2 feet high, available from B%26amp;W and similar retailers. Stake the bottom of the 'fencing' securely to the ground, or it may blow over with the force of high winds.


Prune out dying stems as ground level.


Nothing is certain however, and I find I have to replace my Rosemary every 2-3 years in any case, in my high and windy location. It does help if the bush(es) are trimmed each year to avoid them getting overlarge.


As suggested elsewhere, take a few cuttings every year and bring these on, to replace any plants that suffer damage.
Reply:Rosemary doesn't last forever. Perhaps this winter was just too cold? Why not take a few cuttings from the shoots that are healthy? It's very easy to grow your own. I have more than a dozen new rosemary plants from cuttings I took last year when I had to relocate my large plant- it didn't survive its transplant!
Reply:Something has attacked the root system,usually fungal or other disease.Throw it out and buy another,they cost £1.99 from B%26amp;Q