How to treat weeping lilly pilly tips stripped bare?

[gt8]

Hi,

I have a row of ~20 Waterhousia weeping Lilly pilly plants that I planted in March 2022 that has been growing well. The plants towards the east side have grown particularly well (very lush and healthy looking) whereas the ones in the west are a bit thinner and sparse but still ok (I suspect due to a. bit more share on that end as they receive the same irrigation).

In the past 2 weeks, I noticed that the tips of the plants on the east side that are lush (now about 3.5m tall) seem to be stripped bare of leaves (and they are all on the ground). I'm not sure why this is occurring (as I haven't come across this particular symptom when researching possible causes). It looks like it may be an animal (a possum? as there's lots in the area), but the top tips are quite slender so would not have thought it would have supported their weight. I'm at a loss to try to fix this as they seem to be losing more leaves as the days go by. Any thoughts on the causes and possible prevention would be great!

Thanks.

[EricL]

Hello @gt8 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about your lilly pilly.

Your Waterhousia floribunda, or weeping lilly pilly, seems to be doing well overall, especially on the eastern end where growth is lush and healthy. However, the recent leaf loss at the tips of these taller plants is unusual. Given that the leaves are stripped from the tips and found on the ground, the most likely cause is animal activity, I suspect possums, which are common in many areas and known to feed on fresh growth. Despite the slender branches, possums are surprisingly agile and often reach narrow tips to forage. Bird activity is another possibility, such as parrots or cockatoos, they could also be responsible, as they sometimes strip leaves out of curiosity or feeding behaviour.

Environmental or nutrient issues seem unlikely, since only the most vigorous plants are affected and the rest of the hedge is fine. To manage the issue, consider using possum deterrents like tree collars or motion-activated lights. Taste deterrent sprays made from chilli or garlic can also discourage feeding. If possible, observe the plants at night with a torch to confirm the cause.

Lightly pruning damaged tips can encourage new growth and help you monitor further activity. My best advice is to stay vigilant and keep an eye out for animal activity.

Let me call on our experienced members @Noelle and @mich1972 for their recommendations.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[Noelle]

Hi @gt8 

I have to agree with Eric that wildlife looks to be the most obvious cause of the foliage stripped from the tops of your waterhousias. I'd be putting my money on possums - usually active from dusk to dawn so you'll need a torch and be prepared to go out at night to see if you can catch the culprits in action. Light trimming to remove the stripped shoots may discourage them but the abundance of new growth that may follow could see them back again pretty quickly.