James City County/Williamsburg
Master Gardeners

Frequently Asked Help Desk Questions
Problems With Existing
Trees and Shrubs

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Compiled from Help Desk Files, Toano Extension Office, and websites

See also: Hong, Chuan. "Index to Diseases of Trees in Nurseries and Landscapes of Virginia", and "Index to Diseases of Ornamental Shrubs in Virginia". Virginia Cooperative Extension Intranet, http://www.ext.vt.edu/vce/anr/plantpathology/landscape.html

• Phomopsis Dieback (Phomopsis sp.)
• Plant is slowly dying, another similar Aucuba nearby not showing symptoms.
• This fungus usually secondary on stressed plants (drought, cold, etc). There are no fungicides for control. Only control is to prevent stress and prune out blackened branches back to green. Disinfect tools with alcohol of 10% bleach. (April 03)

• Blackening of shoot tips; scales on leaves.
• Diagnosis: Greedy Scale (Hemiberlesia rapax (Comstock)
• Infects a wide range of plants, characteristically woody perennials and ornamentals.
• Treat with malathion now and/or dormant oil in winter. The blackened leaves are typical of frost injury; prune out affected shoot tips. (April 03)

• Chlorotic lesions on upperside of leaf
• Diagnosis: False oleander scale Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (Colley), apply dormant oil (Sept04)

• Leaf and flower gall (Exobasidium vaccinii) White fungal growth on galls on plant.
• Common on azaleas in the spring. Best control is to pick off galls as soon as they form. When they develop a whitish coating, they are producing spores which can cause new infections. Fungicide applications in early spring can help control the disease. (April03)

• Blackening and subsequent death of foliage, progressive decline each season, dieback to stems. (March 04)
• Diagnosis: cultural problem, such as poor drainage, soil compaction.

• Lime green leaves with dark green veins:
• Rec - iron deficiency, spray foliage with chelated iron fertilizer, apply to soil around plant, correct pH of soil by using aluminum sulfate and watering well.
• (2) leaves bleached/flecked with black spots: Rec - lace bug, PMG (June04)

• Several branches dying but most of shrub looks healthy
• No pathogens were found on the sample; soil pH was 6.8, too high for azalea, resulting in decreased iron uptake and yellowing of foliage. (April03)

• numerous small, brown leaf spots with purplish borders (March04)
• Diagnosis: Cercospora leaf spot; refer to fungicide control recommendations

Beech tree, something gnawing bark off base of tree, no apparent insects or damage. Rec- chemical repellant for squirrels and tree guards for rabbits (June04)

Beech tree, small white bugs, infestation spreading: Rec bring sample (Sept04)

Birch, river, insect eating: Rec sent sample to VT (Sept04)

Birch, river, worms/caterpillars eating leaves Diagnosis: birch sawfly Arge pectoralis (Sept04)

Blueberry bushes, when to move? Rec early spring, vigorous 2-year-old plants (Sept04)

Boxwood: Lesion nematodes, fertilizer injury (July03)

• Major branches have died; remaining foliage is yellow.
• Diagnosis: Spiral nematodes (Rotylenchus buxophilus)
• Nematodes feed on plant roots and can stress plants; there are no controls. Provide good growing conditions, fertilizing and watering as necessary and provide good drainage. Adding organic matter to the soil can improve soil characteristics and encourage a diversity of microorganisms, some of which will be antagonistic to nematodes.
• Chemical control involves use of fumigants which are phytotoxic and must be applied to soil before planting by a licensed applicator, e.g. Vapam or Basamid; label directions should be followed carefully. (April03)

• Leaf tips yellowing. Could be caused by nutrient deficiency or toxicity. Could also be the result of excess soil moisture or stress due to recent transplanting. (September03)

• Yellow leaves.
• Diagnosis: No pathogens present. Yellowing could be caused by poor drainage or nutrient deficiency. Send soil samples for testing. (August03)

1. has brown splotches, leaves are dying from inside out
2. when to feed?
3. best time to transplant? Rec - Sep 14-Oct 15 (Sept04)

1. leaf miners, when to spray, PMG (June04)
2. what is causing yellow cast on one large boxwood? Rec - sent 3 pages from Ortho problem solver (June04)
3. Boxwood, when to transplant? Rec

• (1)One plant yellowing on one side, soil is heavy and very moist.
• Diagnosis: Phytophthora root rot (Phytophthora parasitica). A problem in wet or poorly drained soils. Correct drainage, overwatering, treat new plants with a fungicide. Plants that have already turned brown usually have severe root rot and cannot be saved. (Sept04)
• (2) Parts of plant turning yellow
• Diagnosis: English Boxweed Decline (Paecilomyces buxi). This disease usually follows drought stress. There is no effective chemical control. The fungus is soilborne and can infect new transplants, therefore once the disease has been present in a bed, it is not advisable to replace with English boxwood. Other types of boxwood and other species of woody ornamentals are not susceptible and can be planted in an infested bed. Plants in the early stages of decline may improve with adequate care. Soil pH of 5.0 is low for boxwood and could be causing deficiencies of certain nutrients, which would result in yellowing. (Sept04)

Camellia, 50% leaves lost Diagnosis: Eriophyid mites, see PMG (July04)

Camellia, yellow splotching on upper leaf surfaces (April04) Diagnosis: tea scale Fiorinia theae Green; see PMG

Camellia, scale under leaves (April04) Diagnosis: cottony camellia scale Pulvinaria floccifera (Westwood), see PMG

Camellia, many leaves with a lot of scale Diagnosis: Camellia scale Lepidosaphes camelliae Hoke, see PMG (Sept04)

Camellia: Canker (August03)

Cherry, Ornamental (Prunus serrulata)

• 25% of tree is dying back; leaves drop from interior leaving tufts at branch ends.
• Diagnosis: scales (June03)

Cherry laurel, brown spots and holes Diagnosis: black vine weevil Oriorhynchus sulcatus, see PMG (March04)

Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus): lower branches are affected, leaf discoloration Diagnosis: Mycosphaerella leaf spot (Mycosphaerella sp). The brown leaf spots caused by fungus Mycosphaerella. Use a broad-spectrum foliar fungicide. (August04)

Cherry laurel: bacterial leaf spot (shothole) (July)

Crabapple: Quince rust, apple scab, fire blight (July03)

Crabapple (Malus sp)

• Trunk and older wood has raised, gall-like areas; leaves have yellow ringspots and mosaic.
• Diagnosis: Burrknot. The "cankers" are actually symptoms of a disease called "burrknot", which appears to be a gall, but is a many-branched, truncated root system arising on shoot tissues above the ground. More common on apple rootstocks, frequently on Gala apple scions. Burrknot is a genetic probme and not a transmissible disease. Symptoms increase as the tree gets older. The tissue in the burrknots is sensitive to fire blight, cold injury, and borers, so it can predispose the tree to other problems. The best prevention is to plant rootstocks that are not genetically predisposed to the problem. If knots are seen all over the tree, this often means that the scion died and the tree regrew from the rootstock.
• The pattern of yellowing on the leaves indicates that this tree also has a virus disease. Most virus diseases that occur on crabapple are graft-transmitted and will not spread to other trees. Virus diseases do not debilitate crabapple trees; the symptoms are mainly cosmetic in this case. (June03)

• Scab (Venturia inaequalis)
• Dark leaf spotting. This fungus causes discoloration, yellowing and death of leaves, defoliation, and scabbing of fruit. Requires frequent applications of a fungicide. Refer to Virginia Pest Management Guide 456-017, p. 82 for details on control. For future plantings, ask nursery for cultivars with resistance to scab. (July03)

Crepe myrtle, Japanese beetles: Rec spray beginning of August after eggs out but bugs hatch (Sept04)

Crepe myrtle, turning black with sticky substance: Rec possibly aphids, bring in sample (2) black mold that rubs off? Rec look for aphids, scale or leafhoppers which secrete honeydew on which sooty mold grows which will generally wash away (August04)

Crepe myrtle, when to prune? Rec early spring, prune suckers at base anytime, buds are on new wood (Sept04)

Cypress, blight: Rec blight due to wet weather, spray weekly with copper sulfate (Sept04)

Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens): scattered shoot tips dying Diagnosis: Phyllosticta Tip Blight (Phyllosticta sp). Prune out and discard affected tips. There are no fungicides. (April04)

Cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii)

• Turning brown from top down; group of 3 trees dying in stand of 30 trees.
• The most common problem on Leyland cypress is Seiridium canker, a fungal disease. May be difficult to see - look for drops of resin on the bark.
• There are no controls for this disease, other than to prune out affected branches back to healthy growth. If the cankers are on the trunk, the tree should be removed. Drought stress predisposes trees to infection.
• Seiridium canker is so common on Leyland cypress I do not recommend it for new plantings (Va Tech diagnostician).(September03)

• Marginal leaf browning.
• Diagnosis: Scorch is a symptom that develops when leaf tissue is desiccated; anything that would restrict water flow to leaves could cause scorch. Possible cause include drought, root rot, injuries to trunk or roots, improper application of mulch, deep planting, or decay in the trunk. (August03)

• Small freckles on leaves, leaves curled.
• Diagnosis: Spot Anthracnose (Elsinoe corni)
• This is a spring disease that is more severe in wet springs. Severe infections can result in distortion of the bracts and/or leaves. The disease can be controlled with 4 sprays of fungicide. Applications should be made at budbreak, after bracts have fallen, 4 weeks after bract fall, and once in late summer after flower buds are formed. Refer to Pest Management Guide 456-018, p. 84, for details on fungicide control. This disease does not cause dieback and does not pose a serious threat to the long-term health of the tree. (June03)

Elm, leaves turning yellow, falling off Rec - b

Elm: Black spot, Dutch elm disease (July03)

Euonymus (Euonymus sp): large white gall on stem Diagnosis: Crown Gall (Agrobacterium tumefaciens). A soilborne disease, no controls are available once plants are infected. Plants may live for some time after producing these galls, but when galling is severe, plant vigor will be affected. Do not replant eyonymus in this spot. Other shrubs are not as susceptible. Roots of transplants can be dipped in a biological control product. (July04)

Forsythia, when to plant? Rec any time, nurseries carry year-round (July04)

Holly, Chinese, scale and black and white circles (May04)
Diagnosis: cottony camellia scale Pulvinaria floccifera (Westwood), see PMG Diagnosis: mulberry whitefly Tetraleurodes mori (Quaintance) a minor pest

Holly, Japanese, bark cracked and scaly, foliage dwarfed and spotted with yellow (May04) Diagnosis: oystershell scale, treat with dormant oil in late winter, see PMG

Holly, Japanese, planted June 2004, leaves turning yellow? Rec iron deficiency (Sept04)

Holly, ornamental, trunk is turning yellow near base, then turned white 6" up from ground: Rec - probably a fungus, spray with Sevin (June04)

Holly (Ilex Merserve): plant dying from bottom, leaf drop stems darkening Diagnosis: Phytophthora root rot (Phytophthora parasitica). Usually a problem in wet or poorly drained soil. Correct drainage, cut back on watering, plant on raised beds, treat with a soil drench fungicide. Plants already showing severe browning or wilt usually have severe root rot and cannot be saved. (July04)

Holly: Black root rot, nematodes (dagger, ring, root-knot) (July03)

Hydrangea: Septoria leaf spot (July); Phytophthora root rot, Cercospora leaf spot, Septoria leaf spot, Corynespora leaf spot (August03)

Hydrangea, why no blooms? Rec - Prune after flowering or late in dormant season, depending upon blooming type (July04)

Hydrangea, Best time to plant? Rec - after 2/15 when it will get morning sun, but not hot afternoon sun (July04)

Hydrangea, turning dark brown at top, spreading down bush: Rec - f

Hydrangea, "dead sticks": result of dense planting (2) need pruning schedule (3) will not bloom Rec - water with blood meal solution, prune out 3-5 oldest stems when dormant; (4) needs more sun (June04)

Ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana)

• Marginal browning on leaves. Marginal leaf scorch can be due to a variety of factors, all of which would inhibit water flow from roots to leaves. If near a street where deicing salt was applied, symptoms could be due to salt burn; if so, tree will recover as salts are leached out of the soil. On many trees, excess or insufficient water could also cause these symptoms, but ironwood is fairly tolerant of a range of soil moisture levels. (July03)

• Reddening of needle tips on some shoots; one shoot with dead tip.
• Diagnosis: One of the shoots submitted had Phomopsis tip blight (Phomopsis juniperovora). Prune out affected tips and use funcides.
• Most of the shoot tips did not have Phomopsis on them. Juniper needles naturally turn a reddish brown color over the winter, which is what most of the shoots showed. (May03)

• 2 or 24 junipers planted on slope have died; all other plants are dropping needles and dying from inside out.
• Diagnosis: rootbound. No pathogens were found on roots. It appeared that roots had not grown out of the original rootball and established themselves in surrounding soil, resulting in poor water uptake and a gradual decline of the plant. Scrape roots loose on the outside of the rootball before planting to encourage root growth and water adequately after transplanting, especially during a drought season. (August03)

• Two plants nearest oak tree never thrive; dead branches are purple when cut; all plants are located within 10 ft. of tree but these are within 2 ft.
• Diagnosis: We cultured from roots, but no pathogens were recovered. Problems with the site include heavy shade and root competition. Junipers require full sun, they wll decline in shade. (September03)

• Soil sample showed pH 7.5 which is too high for juniper. Improper pH can lead to deficiencies of certain nutrients, causing chlorosis. (March03)

• Plants turn yellow-green, then brown along the base of the plant, then die. All of the junipers at this resident are suffering from the same symptoms and they are located at various beds throughout the property.
• Diagnosis: Phytophthora Root Rot (Phytophthora sp)
• This disease is favored by wet soil conditions. If drainage is a problem, try to correct before replanting. If overwatering is the problem, cut back on watering remaining plants. Planting on raised beds can help with drainage. New transplants and plants not yet showing symptoms can be treated with a soil drench fungicide as described in Virginia Pest Management Guide 456-018, p. 81. Plants with extensive browning usually have severe root rot and can not be saved. (July03)

• Large group of junipers browning out in centers; several dead plants nearby
• No pathogens found on twigs. Since whole plants are dying, suspect root problem. Shore juniper does not do well in heavy, clay soil; the roots could be dying from poor drainage. (August03)

• Plants on hillside dying in patches; evidence of a lot of vole activity; some plants look perfectly healthy on same hillside.
• Diagnosis: Shore juniper does not do well in clay soils; other species of juniper would be a better choice.
• Voles may chew on bark on the base of the trunk; they are difficult to control. Grow trees in base soil as groundcover provides voles with protection from predators. Voles will not tunnel in unprotected ground. Avoid using a thick layer of mulch since voles will feed on the bark beneath the mulch. To capture voles, look for one-inch diameter holes in the yard and tunnels. Place rat traps containing a peanutbutter/oatmeal paste in these areas. Be sure to cover traps to prevent capture of nontarget animals such as birds. (September03)

• One branch completely brown; another branch with only the shoot tip brown.
• Diagnosis: Kabatina Tip Blight (Kabatina juniperi), a fungus (December03)

• Some tress are healthy,others have died, others have brown, dried out branches throughout.
• Diagnosis: Pestalotia Blight (Pestalotia funereal)
• This fungus is secondary on stressed tissue (such as excess soil moisture) and is not a primary pathogen. There are no controls for Pestalotia blight other than to prevent predisposing stress factors. Pruning out affected branches can help to reduce the amount of inoculum that can spread to other branches, but it is usually not practical on large trees.
• The needles also showed signs of mite injury.
• Diagnosis: Spruce Mite Oligonychus ununguis (Jacobi) (August03)

Leyland cypress: Cypress canker (Seiridium), Botryosphaeria dieback/canker (July); mushroom root rot (August03)

Locust tree roots invading from vacant lot next door: Rec - spray with Roundup (June04)

Locust tree turning yellow and dropping leaves (2) Honey locust leaves yellow, falling in early July: Re - spider mites, PMG(July04)

Magnolia (Magnolia stellata): rusty spots on leaves, chlorosis, some leaves brown and dried up Diagnosis: yellowed leaves suggests a nutrient deficiency which could result from improper soil pH, nutrient imbalance in soil, damage to root system or trunk, or waterlogged soil. (August04)

Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

• Leaves yellowed with spots; recently added topsoil to root area due to erosion.
• Leaf symptoms indicate general stress to the tree. If only older leaves are affected, probably winter dessication, common on magnolia; affected leaves will drop and new leaves should emerge healthy.
• If new leaves turn brown, most likely a root problem, if the new soil buried the roots too deeply. It is always helpful when sending leaves for diagnosis, to send branches still attached so we can see the pattern of damage on the branch. (May 03 )

• Wilt, yellowing. If a large section is wilting or dying back, may be a root problem. Since plant was recently transplanted, roots may not have established well in surrounding soil. (May03)

• Leaf spots following by leaf browning within 2 days' time; injury at bottom of trunk; planted with root flare 1 inch below soil line.
• Diagnosis: No pathogens present. Stresses such as deep planting and poor drainage can cause root death, resulting in leaf browning. If the wound on the trunk has been invaded by decay organisms, there may also be decay in the trunk which would impede water flow to the leaves. There are no controls for wood decay, other than to avoid wounds through which decay organisms enter. Wound dressings do not reduce decay. (June03)

• Rapid dessication of leaves, early leaf drop, branches dying back.
• Zonate leaf spot is generally a late season disease that does not warrant preventative treatment with a fungicide. It has been more severe this year due to the rainy season. Collect and either burn or bury diseased leaves to reduce inoculum buildup for next year. Prune out lower limbs to increase air circulation. If fungicide use is desired next year, use a broad spectrum fungicide such as mancozeb. (September03)

Maple (Acer palmatum): began leafing out in spring, then died; bark peeling away at base of tree and hanging loosely. Diagnosis: possible earlier mechanical injury to base of tree, allowing entrance of decay fungi. (May04)

Maple, Japanese, spots (2) cut down after hurricane, new sprouts, spots on older leaves: Rec - p

Maple, Japanese, losing leaves, low spot near tree, water puddling around edge of root range: Rec - re-direct water away from tree, work in compost/shredded leaves to absorb water. (Sept04)

Maple, Japanese, leaves turning grayish: Rec - p

Nandina, leaves turning light green and yellow and dropping: Rec possibly chlorotic, spray foliage with chelated iron, apply fertilizer around plant, maintain acid pH

Oak (Quercus virginiana): brown necrotic spots on leaves Diagnosis: Monochaetia Leaf Blotch (Monochaetia monochaeta). This disease usually follows oak leaf blister, caused by another fungus. Oak leaf blister is common on oaks in the spring, especially in wet springs. Raking and removed leaves next fall will reduce overwintering fungal inoculum. Fungicides are not recommended. (July04)

Oak, foamy, white ooze around base, attracts bees and flies: Rec stress? Wet soil, change in weather, other? (July04)

Oak, black, white substance oozing from base of trunk, tree recently trimmed. Rec - keep much 3-4" away from base of tree to deter rodents, bring in sample of substance (June04)

Oak, willow, landscaper planted in New Town in front of SunTrust bank: 38 of 40 trees died: Rec will bring in sample, possibly bacterial leaf scorch (August04)

Oak: Leaf blister, spot anthracnose, tubakia leaf spot (July03); Pin Oak: bacterial scorch (August03)

Osmanthus (Osmanthus sp)

• Sparse foliage, slow growth, losing branches.
• Diagnosis: The smallest roots in the sample had outer tissue sloughing off. This symptom is typical of roots compacted, waterlogged or poorly drained soil. Lack of oxygen kills the roots and plants gradually die back. Drainage should be improved before replanting. Adding organic matter to the soil will help to improve drainage. Planting on raised beds is also helpful. (March03)

Pear, Bradford, leaves turn red, then drop: Rec: - premature drop caused by excessive moisture (soggy soil) which stops growth (2) Chanticleer pear appears to have fire blight: Rec prune out infected areas, apply copper sulfate to twigs and branches to help reduce overwintering (August04)

Pear (Pyrus sp), bagworms: Rec: spray with Sevin or malathion (Sept04)

Pear, ornamental: fire blight, quince rust (July); Entomosporium leaf spot (August03)

Pear (Pyrus sp)

• Leaves turning black on 2 pears; noticed last year but more widespread this year.
• Fire Blight (Erwinia amylovora), a bacterium, a serious disease of many ornamentals in the Rosaceae.
• Use cultural controls; prune out infected branches mid to late summer when bacteria are no longer active; avoid pruning during blossoming. Disinfect pruning tools with alcohol or bleach. Remove water sprouts to prevent infection of the trunk. Choose trees (cultivars) for planting that are resistant to fire blight. (June03)

• Large brown leaf blotches.
• Diagnosis: Cladosporium Stem and Leaf Blotch (Cladosporium paeoniae)
• Mancozeb is registered for use on peony to control leaf spot diseases. However, fall sanitation is probably more important in preventing disease. Cut plants back to groun level and remove all plant debris at the end of the season to reduce overwintering of the fungus. This disease often appears late in the season, so fungicide control is usually not warranted (August03)

• Most of shrub appears OK, some entire branches wilt from ground level to tip and die; evidence of vole tunneling.
• No pathogens on roots. Since dieback is unusual on photinia, probably caused by the voles or by some other type of injury at the base of the plant. (September03)

Pieris (Pieris japonica): plant in slow decline last 2 years, turns brown, top portion of leaves and center are most affected Diagnosis: scale insects. Sample forwarded to insect lab for ID. (Sept04)

Pieris (Pieris japonica): leaves yellow, then stems brown, sections die, whole plant dies Diagnosis: Botryosphaeria Dieback, a weak pathogen that infects plants predisposed by drought, winter injury, wounds, etc. The only control is to provide good growing conditions and prune out affected branches. Prunign cuts should be made through healthy tissue, i.e. the cross section of the stem shows no discolored wood. Disinfect pruning tools (Sept04)

Pine, Japanese black, small worm boring into tips of branches: Rec pine shoot moth larvae, PMG, prune out infested tips Oct-Jan when moths are not active. (June04)

Pine, Japanese black, turning brown and dead in approx one month: Rec in sample were 2 bagworms, spray all trees and handpick (August04)

Pine, Mugo

• Pine Webworm (Tetralopha robustella Zeller)
• On Mugo pine, webbing and galls on twigs. Pine webworm occurs in southern Canada and most of eastern U.S.. Attacks one and two-year seedlings of many pines. Defoliation usually does not kill seedlings, but may have some growth impact. Sign is a large mass of frass and excrement pellets entangled in a network of silken webbing with larvae.
• Control: Cut out and destroy the nests. Or spray with ORTHO Bug-B-Gon Ready-Spray or bacterial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) when larvae are small and before needles are webbed in mid-June. Repeat the spray in early August if the tree becomes reinfested. (May03)

Pyracantha, white powdery substance on leaves and branches: Rec powdery mildew, spray with fungicide containing sulfur, lime or copper (Sept04)

Redbud damage: Rec black vine weevil (August04)

Redbud (Cercis Canadensis)

• Leaf discoloration.
• Diagnosis: Botrytis Blight (Botrytis cinerea)
• This fungus infects plant tissue under cool, wet conditions such as we had this season. Disease severity will vary from year to year, generally not severe enough to warrant control on redbuds.
• Signs: masses of silvery-gray spores and tiny black, shiny specks embedded in diseased plant tissue - these are sclerotia which overwinter. Affects many ornamental plants, vegetables and fruits.
• Management: inspection and sanitation. When plants are dry, removed faded or blighted flowers, leaves or entire plant and place in paper back for burning. Avoid overhead watering which will spread the spores. Since the sclerotia can overwinter, every autumn remove plant debris from the garden, cut peony stalks at ground level and destroy this plant debris.
• Sprays may help protect when spring weather is cool and wet or if the blight has been a problem the previous year. Check the label for a fungicide suitable for specific plants. (July03)

• White, cottony tufts on undersides of needles in midsummer. Small blackish insects may be found underneath the cottony material. Needles are spotted yellow and distorted and may drop prematurely. Trees are seldom killed by may be stunted by repeated damage.
• Control: Early the following spring, as new growth is beginning to expand, spray with an insecticide containing acephate (Orthene) or diazinon to control hatching insects. (June03)

• Needles turn yellow, dry up, and drop, leaving holes in canopy; inner needles most affected.
• Diagnosis: Roots submitted were healthy; suspect excess soil moisture. (September03)

• Tree dropping needles and turning brown; planted 2 years ago August
• Diagnosis: environmental stress. No pathogens found. Excess or insufficient soil moisture could have caused the problem. Be careful to plant new transplants in well drained soil and water adequately after transplanting. It should not be a problem to replant with the same species as long as there is not a chronic soil problem in this area.
• Severity of this disease depends on weather conditions, but symptoms are usually restricted to the shoot tips. Overhead irrigation should be avoided since splashing water spreads fungal spores. Affected tips can be pruned out below affected tissue.
• Cleary's 3336 and Protect T/O fungicides are registered for control of this disease. (December 03)

• Leaves turning brown on lower portion of one side of plant; suspect possible overwatering from sprinkler head; affected branches have been pruned - will plant recover?
• If problem is from overwatering, then roots are probably dead on that side of the plant. Depending on how many dead roots there are, the plant may or may not recover. Check for loose bark or chewing marks at the based of the plant on the affected side. If bark is loose, there is probably decay in the main stem and if so, that side of the plant will not recover. (July03)

• Leaves black, branches dying one by one.
• Symptoms are typical of winter injury to which viburnums are sensitive. Certain pathogens, such as the fungus Botryosphaeria can follow winter injury and cause further dieback. Pruning out affected branches back to healthy growth is the only control for this secondary disease. (April03)

• Browning, yellowing and holes in leaves.
• Symptoms suggest winter injury; the places where leaf tissue is missing is where dead tissue dropped out. Winter injury affects older leaves; new leaves that emergy this spring should appear healthy. Older leaves will eventually drop off. (April03)

• Mycosphaerella Leaf Spot (Mycosphaerella sp.)
• Brown and yellow spotted leaves, 3 of 9 plants have died.
• This leaf spot occurs occasionally on wax myrtle, but it would not kill the plant. Death of plants could be due to a root problem. Soil pH from sample submitted is 6.4 which could be stressing the plants; soil pH should be between 4.0 and 6.0.
• Control: For the leaf spot, a broad-spectrum fungicide such as Daconil 2787 or those listed on p. 82 of the Virginia Pest Management Guide 456-018. (May03)

• Galls on branches, branches dead.
• Crown gall (Agrobacterium tumefaciens)
• This is a soilborne disease affect many kinds of plants, willow being highly susceptible. No control is available once plants are infected. Plants may live for some time with these galls, but when galling is severe, plant vigor will be reduced. Do not replant willow in this spot. Roots of new transplants can be dipped in Galltrol before planting to help prevent infection. The only control on affected trees is to prune out affected branches. (May03)Dogwood, newly planted, leaves turning yellow, dropping, something boring into trunk, leaving "little sticks": Rec: - try to locate insect by pulling off bark, brink in sample (July04)
  

Yew, pine sawfly larvae: Rec - PMG (June04)

*Rec: Comments were provided by Master Gardener in answer to helpline questions
** Diagnosis: Comments were provided by Virginia Tech diagnosticians

PMG = Pest Management Guide, pub. by Virginia Tech and available on-line