Why are half of my privet shrubs not thriving?
Hi all. I live in the Pacific Northwest and planted bare root privets for a hedge early this Spring when we had plenty of rain. It's late summer now, and half of the plants are thriving, while the other half seem to be barely growing (or not growing at all). I've done some research and tried giving them extra water, but am still stumped. What could be wrong?
1st pic: view of the whole row
2nd pic: thriving plant at one end
3rd pic: stunted plants at the other end
Thanks!
Update:
Thanks all for your input so far.
I did some more research based on a hunch I had about the problem, and I think it could be do to an old blackberry bush I removed from where the sad privets are.
Aparently, they form aggressive root systems and deplete nitrogen, so i'm going to try forking/loosening the soil around the plants and doing some deep watering. I may try fertilizer too, depending on whether that changes anything.