Hi everyone- I have been growing backyard bliss lilly pilly as a privacy screen along my back fence . I want to hedge it in soon as getting close to the height I’m after. I’m in Adelaide so it’s winter here…it’s been under attack by lilly pilly bugs I think(?) - I thought the heavy rain might move them on but it doesn’t look like it. Also nearly all the leaves have these rust coloured spots? Seeking help from the green thumb community on what is ailing my trees and how I can resolve - I have pets in the backyard so I am careful with using chemicals etc. Thanks everyone and have a great weekend! 😀
Hi @SkittlesPeaches,
To me it looks like sooty mould, which is consistent with it being under attack by insects. It occurs because sap sucking insects such as aphids or scale secrete honeydew, which is a sticky substance that clings to the leaves and stems of the plant. This honeydew then becomes a food source for fungus that appears black on the surface of the leaves. It is not overly harmful to your plants, but it is still best that you manage it.
Check out https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/garden/pest-control/how-to-treat-and-control-plant-disease-organically and https://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/garden/planting-and-growing/how-to-maintain-healthy-lilly-pillies for some guidance on how to treat your plant for the sooty mould.
I would hold off on hedging until the plants are recovering and producing healthy new growth, then give them a light trim and a light fertilise to encourage them to thicken up.
Allow me to tag some of our knowledgable gardeners to see what they think - @Noelle, @mich1972, @Adam_W.
Jacob
hello @SkittlesPeaches
I'm not altogether convinced that the marking on your lilly pilly leaves is due to sooty mould. It looks more like mottling in the leaves rather than a fungal deposit on the surface. This may be due to a nutritional issue, soil condition or location - without more information from you it is difficult to determine the precise cause.
Many of the leaves in your photos are showing quite severe damage which may be caused by caterpillars or beetles chewing them. Controlling pests like these should be your priority, followed by looking at your feeding program and what the soil is like. However, we would need to have a lot more information before being able to diagnose the cause of the mottling.
