Jsvand, My theroy is probably because dynamite is a slow release fertilizer, since its been so cold the last several months, your soil's temps is probably too cold and the dynamite hasn't dissolved. Adding MG is a good idea since its fast acting because its liquid. Now that its warming up your dynamite should start working(slowly dissolving) also with the extra water you will be giving it this time of year...Just to mention that I also supplement my container plants with liquid fertilizers once a month at half strenght or less, just to give them a little boost during the months of March-Oct(growing season)... Just my two cents??

I used Miracle Gro Moisture Control Organic Soil (I bought a big bag at Costco and used it for other plants, so it is what I had here). The pot does have some drainage holes on the sides and drains out into a saucer shapped edge. I rarely (if ever) water it to the point where water comes out of the drainage spots though. When I repotted the plant the soil was very moist. The roots didn't look alarming, but to be honest, I don't exactly know what I am looking for. I have been encouraged to see some small new growth on it, but want to be sure I'm doing the right thing to let that new growth have a chance. I also don't want to throw away a viable plant, but if there is no hope, I will move on.

NHBabs, It was about 5 years old. I purchased it when it was in a 1 gallon pot and it reached 4' from that time to now. It was doing well and had a nice flowering this year. I did find out what the problem was and as gardengal said, it was not fire blight. I brought pictures on my phone to the cooperative extension and they said it was root rot and pointed out all the features that confirm that diagnosis for them. Besides the leaves staying on the shrub, the bark on the trunk peeled away easily and the cambium had turned an orange color. They said if I were to dig up the plant I would find that the soil around and deep into the root ball would be moist and the outer layers of the roots would peel away easily too. Sure enough, after digging up the plant I found this to be the case. I was told not to put any other shrub in that area and to dig out as much as the soil in that area and the surrounding area and dispose of it. Then fill the hole with new topsoil and amendments and don't disturb the area further. Also, they stressed the need to clean equipment and avoid walking all over the rest of the garden if I got some of that soil on my shoes. They said that I can add fungicide to the soil but there is no guarantee that this will get rid of the disease. Since I live in an area where the soil is sandy drainage was not the problem but they think between the excessive heat and the fact that we were getting downpours in between, and I was watering at night to make sure the plants didn't die in the heat that the plant might have gone over the edge with too much of a good thing. I don't think it helped that I also fertilized right after flowering and the plants suffered some light fertilizer burn but nothing major, about 2 months before this. In any event they seemed to recover quickly. I was also advised not to fertilize in the future and the only thing I should be doing if the plants start to look strange, like light colored leaves, was to have the ph checked. Sure is going to look strange without a plant in that area in the future. Looks like I'll have to get creative and add some kind of ornament in that area to balance it out.

That looks like old mottled green leaves that could be removed and let the new leaves take over. I snip them off so the branch doesn't tear. You'll feel so much better when last year's leaves are gone. The new reddish leaves look good.