Source: Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
Have you noticed your plants being affected by branches that appear to be dying-back?
Trees (juniper, cedars, leyland cypress, pines) tend to look great early on, but once the rain stops, they can get dry again very quickly. In some cases, we find cankers, usually at the base or near to the base of affected branches. These can turn out to be caused by the fungus Seiridium sp. which results in branch die-back.
Ultimately stress is the primary effector.
Here are 3 tips to consider when you notice branch die-back:
- Examine the affected branches. See if you find any cankers or insect borer damage.
- If the problem is just beginning (ie. 1-2 branches affected) do tip #1 and prune out affected branches. If plants are valuable, you can use a broad spectrum fungicide to protect tree (if you see cankers and suspect fungal pathogen).
- If the tree is dead (all brown and brittle), plan on removing the plant. Start thinking about how to fill in the space with another plant or to leave them naturally open space.
Learn more about the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
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