Why are my leaves on my petunias dying?

It looks stupid. They are in a hanging basket and I have used Miracle Gro on them once a week or so. In the last week, they have shriveled and died. The flowers are still going strong!





Is this normal for this time of year?

Why are my leaves on my petunias dying?
In most places, it's heat that does this to petunia plants. It's a good argument for pinching the plants back early on, so that they become bushy, rather than having one or two long stems that become "naked" halfway up by this time of year. You might want to plant some foliage plants among them to disguise the stems while still enjoying the blooms.





If you're going to fertilize once a week, you might consider cutting back on the strength of the fertilizer. One of the best strategies I've found is to use the fertilizer at one-quarter strength, and use it about half the time you water in a hot area (preferably in the evening). The rest of the time, keep the soil moist, although not *wet*, to cut down on the heat as much as possible.





Good luck!
Reply:Yes, it is normal. The heat from the sun can shrivel the leaves on petunias right up in a heartbeat. You might check to see if they are getting enough water though...not enough water can contribute to it, especially when using fertilizer. And the fertilizer may be burning the leaves off, depending on how concentrated it is and how you have been applying it. Good luck! (: