Heather troubles

I had one of my 3 new(ish) heathers die inexplicably this year. Its been drier than average, but I have good soil and mulch/water frequently.

I noticed a lot of heathers in a public garden the other day were suffering really badly.

Is this a wider issue with heathers this year?

(I know some heathers need acid soil, but these were/look like Erica which I think are less picky).

 

Oops, didn't mean to post those images twice!

 

If they were newly planted this spring I just wonder if the rootball has dried out.

I know you have been watering but if the compost in the rootball dries out it can be very difficult to rewet other than digging up and soaking in a bucket.

 

I' d agree. Those have seriously dried out. I'm not sure that would be easy to sort other than lifting them. Replanting in autumn might then work as they'd have time to establish over winter.

Mine are planted in the gravel beside the pond and have very little decent soil to grow in. I actually moved one to that site in spring. They're fine, despite a very hot, dry spring [for the west of Scotland] and are never watered, but we still have enough rainfall and cloud, with cooler temps, which means they'd struggle to dry out. I've not seen any damaged ones around the area either, and it's [understandably] a very popular plant here.
I have one growing in the outside boundary edge which is absolutely fine and it's basically growing in fresh air! I keep meaning to shift it into the garden but I always forget.

 

I wonder if they were in teabag rooting modules which if they dry out are almost impossible to wet thoroughly once planted. I think I would lift the plants, put them in a bucket of water overnight, check the root balls to see if there is a "teabag thingy" constricting them, remove them if there is, pot up in containers and grow on in a sheltered corner until next year. It is not easy to regenerate heathers once they have died off as yours have.
Good luck.

 

Dig these dead ones up and check to see if they have a constricted rootball, if yes when you buy replacements in autumn wash the compost off carefully and remove any mesh or similar then plant, preferably in acid soil if you need more soil use an ericaceous compost.

 

This will be controversial but, if they are previously established, try burning off* the top vegetation and soak thoroughly. Its likely that the plants are dormant due to drought and may reshoot if you remove the dessicated tops. This is how moorland is correctly managed and why 're-wilding' efforts of neglect allows wildfires that we read so much about. Only scorch the top sufficiently, do not burn the woody branches!
Southern heathlands are heathlands not forests because of fires; it has been the case for hundreds of years.
*Do this only if you have the means of control and able bodied assistants. A blowtorch is useful, and means of extinguishment essential.

 

They look quite big, so I'd doubt they're in those teabags, but it's certainly worth lifting one and checking @Erigeron . Go from there once you know.
The ground looks incredibly dry. Heathers of all types, can take as much water as you can give them, but they need decent enough drainage, and they also need good soil to thrive. I think many people feel they're like lavender, rosemary or similar, and like poor soil and very little water, but that's really not the case for the majority.
The ling [Calluna] that grows on hillsides and moorland grows in pretty much permanently wet conditions, so it also helps to know what type you have. Ericas will certainly manage in drier soil, but they need to be established properly to thrive, and there's 'sun' and 'dry', but they have their limits! They also tolerate more alkaline soil, so they're different from most other types.