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Leyland Problem

Our guess is that this is not a disease but we'll go through the possibilities.
1. Damage from last winter - leylands are prone to winter damage in cold winters.
2. Die-back caused by root pruning in the ball-and-burlap process if this is a new plant. B&B plants have their roots cut and will normally show die-back because of that - a plant takes 3 or more years to recover from the B&B process.
3. Not enough water over this past summer - too shallow? This is especially likely if this is a newly planted tree, since most people forget that they have to water a new plant deeply but not frequently.

That said, there are two types of canker diseases that Leylands are prone to, and if in a poorly drained area they can get root rot. If this is an established plant and you don't think that you're seeing winter kill you should prune off all brown foliage well inside the plant, disinfecting your pruners in a 10x1 water/bleach solution in between every cut. Then monitor the plant to see if the damage continues. Be sure not to spray the foliage with water and prevent irrigation systems from hitting the foliage too - water with a soaker hose if possible - soaking the area around and under the tree deeply once a week.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:27-07:00 January 14th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Purpleleaf Plum

Purple-leaf (or red-leaf) plums are widely planted as garden or streetside specimens. At least ten named varieties are sold, varying somewhat in form, leaf color, and intensity of leaf color. Although many cultivars are advertised as non-fruiting, they almost all will set some fruit after blooming.

Prunus cerasifera is commonly called cherry plum. It is native to western Asia and the Caucasus. 'Thundercloud' is purple-leaved cultivar that typically grows as a dense, upright-spreading tree to 15-25' tall. It has become a very popular ornamental landscape tree in large part because its showy purple foliage retains excellent color throughout the growing season. Fragrant, 5-petaled, light pink flowers (to 3/4äó across) bloom abundantly in early spring (April) before the foliage emerges. Serrate, ovate to elliptic leaves (to 2.5äó long) emerge ruby red in spring, but mature to dark reddish-purple. Flowers are followed by small edible fruits (purple plums to 1äó diameter). Ceracifera is derived from the Latin words cerasus (cherry tree) and ferre (to bear).

By | 2016-01-13T18:53:45-08:00 January 13th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Japanese Cedar

Your evergreen plant looks to be a Cryptomeria. This conifer makes a lovely addition to the garden. Cryptomeria is the national tree of Japan. It can be found planted at many sacred sites and is also planted on a large scale as a forest tree. Only one species exists, Cryptomeria japonica. It grows fast into a very large lofty, pyramidal or conical evergreen tree, with red-brown bark which peels in vertical strips. The wood is scented, waterproof, lightweight and strong, so it is used for all types of construction in Japan.
Though only one species of Cryptomeria exists, many ornamental varieties are in cultivation and are very suitable to Northwest landscapes. Portland Nursery carries a full selection of miniature to full-size forms to fit perfectly into the any garden site.
Cryptomerias are especially interesting because they offer a wide range of color and texture choices. During winter several varieties have foliage that changes color from green to bronze or burgundy. Some varieties are soft and plume-like foliage while others have branches and leaves that resemble dreadlocks or ringlets. Cryptomerias lend year round interest and are an excellent addition to gardens. They have slow to medium growth rate so prepare for the larger varieties to need room to grow.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:28-07:00 January 13th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Japanese Cedar

Your evergreen plant looks to be a Cryptomeria. This conifer makes a lovely addition to the garden. Cryptomeria is the national tree of Japan. It can be found planted at many sacred sites and is also planted on a large scale as a forest tree. Only one species exists, Cryptomeria japonica. It grows fast into a very large lofty, pyramidal or conical evergreen tree, with red-brown bark which peels in vertical strips. The wood is scented, waterproof, lightweight and strong, so it is used for all types of construction in Japan.
Though only one species of Cryptomeria exists, many ornamental varieties are in cultivation and are very suitable to Northwest landscapes. Portland Nursery carries a full selection of miniature to full-size forms to fit perfectly into the any garden site.
Cryptomerias are especially interesting because they offer a wide range of color and texture choices. During winter several varieties have foliage that changes color from green to bronze or burgundy. Some varieties are soft and plume-like foliage while others have branches and leaves that resemble dreadlocks or ringlets. Cryptomerias lend year round interest and are an excellent addition to the Northwest garden.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:28-07:00 January 12th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Virus Or Nutrient Issue

When we see yellowing on foliage such as this there are two possible causes and without testing in a lab it's impossible to say with certainty which you are seeing. . Spotting of leaves in this manner may be a nutrient issue or a virus. There is no cure for viruses in plants. The first thing you can do is to cut off the worst of the leaves and throw them away. This will improve the look of the plant and will allow you to monitor the plant more easily. Next, have the pH of the soil tested. . Sometimes plants show symptoms if nutrients are out of balance as well. For example if too much phosphate is applied (super phosphate) or too much magnesium (Epsom salt) that can make other nutrients unavailable to plants. So in general it's always best to use a fertilizer that is slow-release and balanced. An example of such a product would be Plant-tone by Espoma. If the leaves continue to yellow you might want to have a complete soil test done that includes pH as well as nutrient levels to see if something is out of balance. Finally, an application of composted manure around the base of an ailing plant, and a deep soaking once a week (not more often) is never a bad idea.

By | 2016-01-12T19:56:04-08:00 January 12th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Allelopathy And Black Walnut Tree

You mentioned a black walnut tree and this may be the reason why your tomato plant is beginning to show a problem (although most of the plant looks healthy and is flowering). As you probably know, your tree releases a juglone that exudes from all parts of the tree and discourages susceptible plants such as tomatoes from growing underneath or near the tree. Clean up all the tree's leaves and compost or dispose in the trash. Even the roots of the tree can extend far beyond the drip line and affect particularly tomatoes. It looks as if the tomato plant is in a raised bed and hopefully the roots from the nearby walnut tree has not made its way into the raised bed. Keep a close watch over your tomato plants and hopefully the lower foliage is just the result of fluctuations in temperature, watering or in need of more slow-release or organic fertilizer formulated for tomato plants. Also supplement with an organic foliar feed such as liquid kelp following the directions on the bottle to give your tomato plants an extra boost. Here is more information for you: Black Walnut and Allelopathy
www.ces.ncsu.edu/.../blackwalnutcompan...äó_
North Carolina State University

By | 2016-01-12T07:19:20-08:00 January 12th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Powdery Mildew

This looks like powdery mildew, a fungal disease that starts out as small circular areas with spore development primarily on the upper leaf surface. Be sure to collect and dispose of all the fallen leaves instead of composting, as spores can overwinter on dead leaves.

In our region, potted Japanese maples are more likely to be affected than those planted in the ground. Luckily, the disease is more unattractive than problematic in the long term (especially in the stage your photo shows). It's usually at its worst in late summer (or now!) due to persistent dry conditions. Prevention focuses on a healthy root system - so make sure the plant isn't under-potted (meaning the roots are crowded around the edge of the root-ball and overheat in hot weather). Poor drainage could also contribute to susceptibility. Neem oil is one method of control available at your local garden center, but at this stage in the season, you may choose to wait this out. (Very young foliage - typically earlier in the season - can damage the growing tips, but this is not evident in your photo.)

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:28-07:00 January 12th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Water Or Soil Problem

Please accept our apologies for the delay in responding! This looks like it could be too much water, and/or a soil drainage problem. If the soil is consistently wet, and does not drain well leaves can turn yellow and develop water-soaked areas (like the dark spots on the leaves, the leaf stem, and the mid-vein). Very heavy clay soils hold too much water and drain poorly; unfortunately many soils in CA are like this. We recommend using a soil probe to determine soil moisture in the root zone water accordingly, allowing the soil to dry down a bit between waterings. Weather conditions determine the rate of evaporation so it varies. Trees weakened by water issues (or other inappropriate soil conditions, as discussed in the following web-link) can make the tree more susceptible to disease. The brown spots may be the result of a fungal or bacterial disease, but we recommend getting the advice of a licensed arborist, or take some leaf samples (sealed in a bag) to your local Dept of Agriculture Office, before attempting to use disease control products. The Ag Dept will usually send the samples to the county plant pathologist and reply to you for free. Be sure to provide as much info about the growing environment and care practices as possible.

By | 2016-01-09T13:16:22-08:00 January 9th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Lichen

The presence of lichen tells you that the shrub or tree is not growing as well as it should be. Suggest you prune or rub off the lichen and prune the rest of the tree if you have not recently, then fertilize in spring and again in summer this year to stimulate new growth.
Lichen (pronounced äóìlikenäó) is a biological class of complex organisms (a fungus and alga or cyanobacterium) that have a symbiotic relationship. The green algae and cyanobacteria produce food by photosynthesis. The fungi cannot photosynthesize, but provide a protective exterior surface for the algae/cyanobacteria. This enables the algae/cyanobacteria to exist in full sun, thus maximizing its ability to produce food for both. Lichen gain water and mineral nutrients mainly from the atmosphere, through rain and dust. THis is not a disease and will not hurt the tree or shrub.

Lichen not only grow on plants but on the ground and on rocks. Lichens have a great deal of variability in color and form depending on the species. The color can range from white to green to yellow/orange/red, and some have black specks. Some are flat and others look like ruffles. Some look like small, leafless shrubs.

By | 2016-01-09T07:27:06-08:00 January 9th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Japanese Cedar

Your evergreen plant looks to be a Cryptomeria. This conifer makes a lovely addition to the garden. Cryptomeria is the national tree of Japan. It can be found planted at many sacred sites and is also planted on a large scale as a forest tree. Only one species exists, Cryptomeria japonica. It grows fast into a very large lofty, pyramidal or conical evergreen tree, with red-brown bark which peels in vertical strips. The wood is scented, waterproof, lightweight and strong, so it is used for all types of construction in Japan.
Though only one species of Cryptomeria exists, many ornamental varieties are in cultivation and are very suitable to Northwest landscapes.
Cryptomerias are especially interesting because they offer a wide range of color and texture choices. During winter several varieties have foliage that changes color from green to bronze or burgundy. Some varieties are soft and plume-like foliage while others have branches and leaves that resemble dreadlocks or ringlets. Cryptomerias lend year round interest and are an excellent addition to gardens. They have slow to medium growth rate so prepare for the larger varieties to need room to grow.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:28-07:00 January 9th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
Read More