"jks" wrote in message
...
My Leylandii have been dying one by one for several years. Previously they
took some time to die but the latest was quite healthy 2 weeks ago and is
now dead. All the trees, planted about 16 years ago, were on a bank of a
stream so I don't think water was a problem.
Looking beneath the bark there is no sign of fungal disease and I can't
see any aphids on it.
It looks as if a privet bush close to the hedge is also dying.
Anyone know what the problem might be and have a cure?
You have'nt seen any aphids so my first guess (Cypress aphid
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7493107.stm ) is probably wrong. In any case
I don't know if it would affect Privet.
Another possibility is Phytophthora, a sort of fungus-like organism that
causes foliage to turn brown, often down one side of the plant at first,
before the tree eventually dies. It killed a whole cypress hedge of mine
last year and affects conifers and fruit trees. There is no cure. Similar
symptoms are caused by Honey Fungus.
R.