You know it’s time to concede defeat with a plant when no matter how much TLC you give it, its leaves continue to shrivel and brown. Unfortunately, it’s not just one plant but three of the suckers – all African Box.

Mid spring we decided to move our struggling box hedge, that lined the driveway, into our recently landscaped front yard. Part of the reason for their past struggles was to do with the soil sand that they had to grow in. It was hydrophobic, leeched any nutrient immediately and I’m sure was directly imported from the Sahara. Combine that with an irreverent postman who enjoyed the thrill of trying to dodge them on his way to the neighbours and it was plainly obvious that they had to move.

So move them, we did. While most of the transplanting went fine, three of these box plants couldn’t retain any of the soil around their roots. I dotted them amongst the others – just in case they didn’t survive – and poured the TLC on big-time.

I’ve since come to learn that when a plant has a death wish there’s no amount of resuscitation that’s going to improve the outcome. Regardless of the constant watering, fertilising, mulching and cajoling there comes a time when every gardener needs to face the inevitable reality – palliative care is the only response.

I haven’t brought myself to dig them out yet, somehow secretly hoping that a miracle might occur and they will begin the path to recovery. But, I’m a realist and I understand the knowing glances of passersby “Yes, their dead!” I shout back in my mind.

Maybe I’ll give them another week…