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Hi All, I need help finding the right product to save my lilly pilly. They Lind of look like they have several different issues not just one!
Hello @meags
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your Lilly Pilly.
Can you please give us a quick description of what seems to be happening to your Lilly Pilly? I can see some leaves yellowing and some part of the plant being eaten by some insects, but other than that is there a general symptom that is causing the plant to get stressed? How often do you water it? Have you sprayed any insecticide on it? When did the trouble start to begin? Any extra information you can provide about the plants current health will help us diagnose what could be wrong with it.
In the meantime, here is a handy guide: How To Grow And Care For A Lilly Pilly
If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.
Eric
Hello @meags
Thank you very much for sharing that information. Since it’s been in the ground for a few years, the sudden decline over the past 12 months points to a build-up of issues rather than one single cause. With the symptoms you’ve described yellowing or vanishing leaves, black dots, white spots, and orange tinges you're likely dealing with a combination of psyllid or scale pests, mild fungal infection, and soil nutrient depletion or compaction. Here's are some suggested steps using gentle, effective products available at the store:
Start with Eco-Oil by OCP, a certified organic pest oil that’s safe for beneficial insects and ideal for scale and psyllid. Spray the entire plant including under the leaves, where scale and psyllid eggs hide. Do this weekly for 3–4 weeks. You may notice some pests fall off or discolour after the first spray that’s a good sign.
Next, strengthen the plant with Seasol. This is a plant health tonic that will boost root strength and stress resistance. Mix it in a watering can and apply to the base every 2 weeks. Follow that with a slow-release native fertiliser like Scotts Osmocote Native, lightly scratched into the soil surface and watered in. This is especially important if your soil has become depleted or compacted over time.
If after 3–4 weeks you’re still seeing black spots or odd patches spreading, that could be a mild fungal issue, and you can follow up with Yates Rose Shield or Eco-Fungicide, depending on availability. Don’t use these until the pest load is mostly gone, as combining too many treatments at once can overwhelm the plant.
Also, gently mulch around the base with a native mulch like pine bark or eucalyptus chip, keeping it a few centimetres away from the trunk. This will help with moisture retention and temperature control without encouraging rot. Given the tree’s established age and location, with this suggested treatment routine you should see improvement within a couple of months.
Please remember to wear personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a mask when spraying your plants.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
