Borers ?

Help, I have a lovely Sango Kaku in a large (24" ceramic planter which did very well for about 5 years. It is one of the very few varieties that can handle our hot, muggy weather. All of a sudden it has what I am pretty sure are borers. I suspect it's leaves formed such a perfect canopy they acted like an umbrella and it did not get enough water this past summer.

I am pretty much of a no chemical gardener but I would hate to lose this tree. I have cut off all the affected brances that I can see so far but I am sure there are more. Is there any hope? Any and all suggestions welcomed.

Thanks

I don't' think that you have borers. I think that you have PSEUDOMONAS
http://www.carlmontnursery.com/page.asp?page_id=166

You can't always cut off damage because sometimes it shows up on the main trunk. Do keep it from getting wet though. I will send email to Nurserydude about what else might be done. Keep the tree away from other JMs. It's not the end of the tree. I've seen them rescued.

Here's a quote from UC Berkeley site:
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/forums/showthread.php?t=8751
" I have used Phyton 27 (soluable copper sulfate) both alone and in combination with a Bayer disease control product containing the antifungal tebuconazole. I have mixed the tebuconazole with the Phyton in the same sprayer on occassion."

And here is the Phyton 27 treatment sheet:
http://www.phyton27.com/guidelines/Spray%20Trees%20TB%2005.pdf

Here is the Bayer Advanced treatment sheet.
http://www.bayeradvanced.com/garden/products/details.cfm?id=45


This message was edited Nov 5, 2006 11:06 AM

Thanks Doss, I will look into all of those links. One of those pictures sure looked similar to my branches but I did not see any little holes there. Miy darker areas all have small holes bored into them.

Also, it is rarely cool and damp here; more likely hot and humid. My leaves on the affected branches were all getting their fall color ahead of the non affected branches. I hated to cut them off, the colors were so beautiful. Actually I brought the cut branches into the house yesterday for an arrangement.

I'm sorry anyway. Borers aren't something we have here so I'm not aware of the damage but I sure see the hole in your photo.

Perhaps a systemic Bayer or other product for insects?

Ardesia:

I do not suspect pseudomonas as it is just the wrong time of year for those. I do, though, recommend watching the area to see if it is continuing to spread. Use a Sharpie (ug, I hate those pens) and mark a line at the outer edge of the black scaring. This will give you a benchmark to see if it is continuing to spread. Also look for frass (er...uh..."poop") building up around the entry point.

I have seen some situations where borer activity exists in stressed trees. You mention it's been in a pot 5 years (same soil?) in hot, muggy areas with irrigation stress. Have ya also kicked it a few times just for fun ;-) Stressed trees are most likely to be damaged by borers, especially those exposed to sunburn.

It is not seen here often. I will log a call with my grower in the next day or so to see if he has any input on this...

Nurserydude, Thanks for your input. Yes, it has been in the same pot although semi-annually I poke holes down through the soil for aeration and topdress with some good compost. I think the irrigation was the biggest problem, the tree was stressed this past summer. It is in the shade of a live oak tree; we cannot grow JM's in the sun around here, so no sunburn.

I've not noticed any frass but these entry holes are really tiny so,,,,,,,,

And NO, kicking trees is not allowed around here. LOL Because it is elevated in a pot ny dog can't even relieve himsolf on it.

alice :-)