I've got 4 Cherry Laurels in the backyard. In the past months, just one of them started developing some yellow leaves. Upon inspection, I didn't notice anything obviously different with it and its nearby neighbors, so I turned down the sprinklers thinking they were getting over watered. Things seemed to improve over the summer, but just recently (possibly coinciding with the recent rains?), the yellow leaves have returned. A re-inspection revealed this odd black stuff on the underside of the leaves. The search terms I've tried didn't help- is this mites, a fungus, something else?
Try the nice folk at uk.rec.gardening
Posted by Ceri Davies on October 16, 2007 at 02:06 AM PDT #
I have a magnolia tree with the same problem. The leaves are turning yellow and falling off and there seems to be the same black stuff on the back side of the leaves. The green leaves don't look so good either. They usually look real firm whereas now they are sort of wilted looking. I was like Rama, I thought the tree needed a little watering, but that did not seem to help. What do I need to spray them with? Would fertilizing it with 13-13 help? My neighor said not to fertilize the tree with it looking so poorly. One more thing, my neighbors also have magnolia trees in their front yard that are doing the same thing. The one in their back yard seems fine.
Posted by Joan Boone on April 24, 2008 at 02:45 PM PDT #
joan-
on further inspection, I saw what looked to be egg sacks: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rama/2212711461/
and if I watched closely enough on some leaves, I saw very small translucent mites (they look like tiny spiders).
I ended up treating it with an insecticide spray-on oil. Best I can tell, that took care of the bugs, but the tree reacted badly to it 2-3 weeks later due to the heavy dose. Its still recovering. I would instead recommend a spray on soap or something similar, and repeat it several times to catch all the new mites after they hatch.
Posted by rama on April 24, 2008 at 02:54 PM PDT #
I'm sorry, I forgot to ask yesterday what would you recommend the ratio of soap and water be? I think years ago I used 50-50, would that do it or do I need more soap than water, or the opposite. Thanks again
Posted by Joan Boone on April 25, 2008 at 04:20 PM PDT #
i haven't tried soap before, but the ratio should be *much* less soap- just a tablespoon per quart is enough to kill ants and the like.
Posted by rama on April 25, 2008 at 04:23 PM PDT #
I have a kulmarnock willow about 5 years old very good with the catkin display plus the leaf growth up until this year. The buds have formed but are very slow to open and don't seem to be opening fully no leaves have developed except a very few which have curled and are brown/grey in colour please advice
Posted by suzanne jones on May 27, 2008 at 10:06 AM PDT #
I have a weeping weeping maple that in the last two weeks the leaves are turned brown and dried up I have seen no obivous parisites on it ?
Posted by Chuck Mc on August 04, 2008 at 05:42 PM PDT #
In the ground on the roots of my Magnolia is brainy looking mushrooms? There are also white little mushrooms that are growing also.Please tell me what they are and how do I get rid of it? I don't want to loose this tree.
Posted by janette winters on August 23, 2008 at 12:21 PM PDT #
i have what i think to be a green ash in my front yard, there's only one thing that doesn't make sense. it has these strange "buds" on it that look almost like broccoli florettes. they are very dry, about 3-4" long and about 1-2" in diameter. i have searched every website trying to find pics and what it could be but no luck. any suggestions? Thanks!
Posted by Amber on September 01, 2008 at 06:14 PM PDT #
My magnolia tree has on it's trunk something that look like mold, it's steadily going up the tree. The leaves are drooping and falling off. What should I do.
Posted by Donna on May 22, 2009 at 09:50 AM PDT #
I have a 15 year old magnolia tree with a southern exposure. Toward the beginning of summer I noticed white spores on the branches and the leaves are oozing a sticky, clear substance that stains the driveway and the sidewalk adjacent to it. The leaves have a few black marks, not exactly spots. Any idea what this is?
Posted by Dee on July 21, 2009 at 07:38 AM PDT #
Hi, the black blotches on the back of the Laurel leaf are related to the four to six nectary glands situated here. The glands are producing too much sugary solution where sooty mould has started growing on it. This is not really a problem. I think in the wild (south eastern Europe) there is probably a species of ant that is associated with this tree and feeds on the nectar produced here also protecting the tree from insect attack. A mutually beneficial relationship.
Posted by Steve on August 12, 2009 at 02:21 PM PDT #
Thanks for your diagnosis, Steve. The tree does draw alot of bees, so you've got to be right that it is a sugary solution. I'm glad there are no ants!
Posted by Dee on August 28, 2009 at 12:26 PM PDT #