An old Skimmia japonica, planted in heavy shade under a tree, has finally died.
I noticed its leaves were covered in sooty mould last spring, but didn't do
anything about it. The dead branches were covered in white powdery mould, and
some of the stems had whitish lumpy fungus shaped bits on them. Could it have
been scale insect attack that really did for it? Or did the more vicious white
fungus finish off an already weakened plant? Perhaps the drought last year had
a part to play.

Any advice would be very welcome.

Gill