Q. Whatever happened to all the oleander bushes that used to grow along the freeways? I used to see them everywhere, but now they’ve disappeared.
Oleander used to be a favorite Caltrans plant because it is fast-growing, tough, and required little care. Its dense growth habit made it ideal for freeway median strips, and its white or pink flowers gave us something pretty to look at while sitting in traffic.
Unfortunately, Oleander Leaf Scorch has killed off many oleander bushes. This disease, which affects the vascular system of susceptible plants, first appeared in eastern Riverside County in the 1990s and has spread throughout the southern United States. Once infected, the plant will become sickly and die within 3-5 years. The first symptoms of leaf scorch are similar to the symptoms of drought stress – yellowing leaves that turn dark yellow, then brown, followed by leaf drop. Unlike drought stress, leaf scorch symptoms initially appear on one or several branches before spreading to the whole plant. Once a plant is infected, there is no cure.
Oleander leaf scorch is transmitted by the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter. This insect also spreads Pierce’s disease, which swept through many Southern California vineyards in the late 90s.
Q. I planted a crape myrtle in my front yard about 2 years ago. It grew fine for the first year, but hardly at all this year. It also doesn’t look healthy at all. I noticed a lot of damage around the base of the trunk. What could have caused this, and is this why my tree looks so sad?
Girdling can certainly cause a tree to decline and, in severe cases, die. Sometimes animals can inflict this type of damage. Rabbits, rats, or mice can gnaw away bark, resulting in the disruption of nutrient and water flow, essentially starving the tree. A hardware cloth collar can exclude these critters while allowing for air circulation. Remember to replace it with a larger collar as the tree grows.
Another common cause of girdling is something we call “string trimmer disease.” Careless use of a string trimmer around the base of a tree is a common occurrence. If this is the case, either hand-trim any wayward grass that’s growing against the trunk or use a protective trunk collar.
Girdling can also be caused by tree support stake ties that have been left in place far too long. If your tree is thicker than the support stakes, it’s time to remove them. Circular roots, caused by growing a tree in a container for too long, can also girdle a tree as it grows. If you see a tree that looks dead on only one side, chances are it has a girdling root cutting off circulation to that half.
Los Angeles County
mglosangeleshelpline@ucdavis.edu; 626-586-1988; celosangeles.ucanr.edu/UC_Master_Gardener_Program/
Orange County
ucceocmghotline@ucanr.edu; mgorange.ucanr.edu/
Riverside County
anrmgriverside@ucanr.edu; 951-955-0170; ucanr.edu/sites/RiversideMG/
San Bernardino County
mgsanbern@ucanr.edu; 909-387-2182; mgsb.ucanr.edu
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