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Hello
My Lilly Pilly hedge is showing signs of distress in parts and I was hoping to get some ideas as to how to rescue it. It is effecting parts of a few plants in a hedge of around 10 plants.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
thank you
Sue
Hi @SR2,
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.
It looks like your lilly pillies are slowly being covered by sooty mould, which is not a disease that infects the plant itself; rather, it grows on sugary residue left behind by sap-sucking insects, such as scale insect which are the cause of the issues. You can see them on the stems here.
My suggestion is to apply Yates Ready To Use Scale Gun Insect Pest Killer to your plant, ensuring you get good coverage of the scale-affected areas. It combines a horticultural oil, which dissolves the waxy cap that protects the insects, and pyrethrum, which will kill them. You may need to reapply if insects are missed, so it is worthwhile to check back weekly to see how things are progressing.
Once the scale is under control, remove the mould. Light infestations often wash off naturally with rain. For heavier buildup, gently hose the foliage or wipe affected leaves with a soft cloth and mild soapy water. Avoid harsh scrubbing, as this can damage leaves.
It is also going to be worth improving airflow through trimming and tidying up around the base of the tree as airflow will help to dry out leaves and prevent reoccurrence of mould.
You might like to have a look at How to diagnose and revive a sick lilly for some further guidance.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Jacob
