What’s happening to my Spring Bouquet (ViburnumTinus)? It bloomed beautifully in the Spring for several years
(including this past Spring), but many of the leaves are turning brown, and
appear to be burnt. I didn’t see any evidence of spider mites or other
pests. I checked the drippers and it is getting sufficient water.
Is this damage caused by Fire Blight, Spider Mites, or something else? I
was planning to spray it with Bayer 3 in 1 Insect, Disease, & Mite Control
(which contains Imidacloprid, Tau-fuvalinate &Tebuconazole).
.
Any assistance would be appreciated.
A. You are correct to inspector for spider
mites this time of year. We usually see them when weather has been hot and dry.
Spider mites can be a problem even if we don’t see webbing. Webbing isn’t
always present. Spider mites love dusty leaves so washing the leaves off with
water after windy weather is a good idea.
mites this time of year. We usually see them when weather has been hot and dry.
Spider mites can be a problem even if we don’t see webbing. Webbing isn’t
always present. Spider mites love dusty leaves so washing the leaves off with
water after windy weather is a good idea.
 |
| Two spotted spider mite. Actutally the size of this period…… |
That being said, I don’t see spider mites
as a problem in the pictures you sent to me. Spider mites don’t live very long
so their dead bodies leave behind kind of a dusty appearance to the leaves. I
also use a hand lens and look for their tiny eggs which are round translucent
balls. Finally I take a branch and slap it against a white piece of paper. I
look for tiny crawly things about the size of the period at the end of the
sentence.
as a problem in the pictures you sent to me. Spider mites don’t live very long
so their dead bodies leave behind kind of a dusty appearance to the leaves. I
also use a hand lens and look for their tiny eggs which are round translucent
balls. Finally I take a branch and slap it against a white piece of paper. I
look for tiny crawly things about the size of the period at the end of the
sentence.
 |
| This is spider mite webbing but doesn’t always happen |
I don’t think you have them. I think this
problem is water related. Either the plants are watered too often, they are not
given enough water when they are watered or they are given too much water. You
didn’t tell me how often you water but I think you are may be watering too
often. That’s my guess. Root suffocation or rot is relatively common on
viburnum unfortunately.
problem is water related. Either the plants are watered too often, they are not
given enough water when they are watered or they are given too much water. You
didn’t tell me how often you water but I think you are may be watering too
often. That’s my guess. Root suffocation or rot is relatively common on
viburnum unfortunately.
Water less often. When you water, give them a lot Of water at one time and then
hold off until they need it again. Never water these every day. At the very
least you should be able to water them every other day. Maybe even every 3rd
day.
hold off until they need it again. Never water these every day. At the very
least you should be able to water them every other day. Maybe even every 3rd
day.
Increase the number and size of the
emitters. The easiest way to Give them more water
is to increase the number of emitters and the size of these emitters to this
plant. For example, if this plant has 2 emitters Watering it, increase it to 4
emitters. If this plant has 2 gallon per hour emitters, change them to 4 gallon
per hour emitters.
emitters. The easiest way to Give them more water
is to increase the number of emitters and the size of these emitters to this
plant. For example, if this plant has 2 emitters Watering it, increase it to 4
emitters. If this plant has 2 gallon per hour emitters, change them to 4 gallon
per hour emitters.
it is better to give them too much water
all at once and then wait than it is to water them every day.
all at once and then wait than it is to water them every day.
Improve drainage. Soils that have little amendment in them to improve the drainage get
worse over time. This is because the organics in the soil decomposes and
disappears. This causes the soil’s to collapse and drain poorly. This causes
poor drainage and leaves water around the roots and suffocates them.
worse over time. This is because the organics in the soil decomposes and
disappears. This causes the soil’s to collapse and drain poorly. This causes
poor drainage and leaves water around the roots and suffocates them.
Get a 1 inch diameter or larger auger
that can attach to a drill. Make sure this auger is at least 18 inches long.
Drill 8 to 10 of these holes within 12 inches of this plant without hitting
your irrigation lines. Leave these holes open and drill more of them when they
collapse or fill them with compost to help keep them open. You are creating a
French drain or a sump, sometimes called vertical mulching. This helps move
water away from the roots that might be suffocating them.
that can attach to a drill. Make sure this auger is at least 18 inches long.
Drill 8 to 10 of these holes within 12 inches of this plant without hitting
your irrigation lines. Leave these holes open and drill more of them when they
collapse or fill them with compost to help keep them open. You are creating a
French drain or a sump, sometimes called vertical mulching. This helps move
water away from the roots that might be suffocating them.
Replace the rock mulch with wood chips. Wood chip mulch on the surface of the soil decomposes and improves
the surface layer of the soil. Rock mulch doesn’t. It actually makes the soil
worse for drainage.
the surface layer of the soil. Rock mulch doesn’t. It actually makes the soil
worse for drainage.