Hope someone can help!?

Over the past two years, the Spotted Laurel in a large garden I've been working in have suffered almost total devastation with mass dying of the shrubs. I have been aware that the property next door is suffering from the same problem. The plants have started wilting first, then leaves blackening and dying, then subsequently the whole plant dies right down to the roots.
I have posted/uploaded some photos, ranging from a healthy looking tip to the inside of the dead trunk/stems showing the state left on the inside. Also a couple of the dying and dead foliage/stems.
There are other 'laurels'(Bay,Portuguese and English) as well as various regular shrubs and trees of other species which are totally unaffected.
Up to now, apart from asking anyone(gardeners/garden centre staff) whom I think might know the problem, I have cut out and burned all affected plants as they occur and now have very little left with no signs of it abaiting.

Thank you for any morcel of advice however small. The phots will either be linked on this post or on the Garden Photographs section under 'Dying Aucuba!!'

Terry

On 19/02/2012 20:33, Terry Deans wrote:
Hope someone can help!?

Over the past two years, the Spotted Laurel in a large garden I've been
working in have suffered almost total devastation with mass dying of the
shrubs. I have been aware that the property next door is suffering from
the same problem. The plants have started wilting first, then leaves
blackening and dying, then subsequently the whole plant dies right down
to the roots.
I have posted/uploaded some photos, ranging from a healthy looking tip
to the inside of the dead trunk/stems showing the state left on the
inside. Also a couple of the dying and dead foliage/stems.
There are other 'laurels'(Bay,Portuguese and English) as well as various
regular shrubs and trees of other species which are totally unaffected.
Up to now, apart from asking anyone(gardeners/garden centre staff) whom
I think might know the problem, I have cut out and burned all affected
plants as they occur and now have very little left with no signs of it
abaiting.

Thank you for any morcel of advice however small. The phots will either
be linked on this post or on the Garden Photographs section under 'Dying
Aucuba!!'

Terry

[image: http://i40.tinypic.com/w2o7yq.jpg]
[image: http://i43.tinypic.com/kswh4.jpg]
[image: http://i42.tinypic.com/dea44y.jpg]
[image: http://i39.tinypic.com/ftlu6u.jpg]
[image: http://i41.tinypic.com/2uqjfyv.jpg]

Aucuba are normally pretty resistant to disease. What you are
experiencing could well be related to root rot. Whether this is from
wet soil conditions or due to infestation by Phytophthora is difficult
to say (partial waterlogging can, however, make Phytophthora infection
more likely). If it was solely due to waterlogged soil I would expect
other species of plants to be affected. Phytophthora, however, is a
strange pathogen that can decimate certain species whilst leaving others
unaffected, so my money would be on Phytophthora.

If it is Phytophthora there is really nothing that can be done, or is
worth doing, to treat the Aucuba. Probably the best thing is to see
what plants remain healthy, and put in more of those. I wouldn't bother
trying to plant healthy Aucuba to replace those that have been lost.

--

Jeff

The Aucuba 'Japonica' Variegata, also known as a 'Spotted Laurel', gives colour throughout the year. They are perfect shrubs for creating a formal evergreen hedge. Spotted Laurels grow at a rate of 1ft a year making it slightly slower-growing than the common Laurel. It should be trimmed to shape in late summer.



Position: Full sun, semi-shade

Planting Area: Fertile well-drained soil

Flowers: Spring

Hardiness: Hardy

Height x Spread: 180cmcm x 180cm (6ft)


How to care for your plant:


This plant is easy to maintain and look after. When you receive your new plant, soak in a bucket of water for 30 minutes and then plant to the same depth as the soil level in the pot. Water regularly until established. We recommend adding fertilizer when planting, ideal are bone meal or Fish Blood & Bone.

After flowering cut out all dead, diseased and unwanted growth and trim to desired shape and size.





Dispatch Information:



Orders are dispatched within 1-3 working days and should be delivered within 1-5 (working) days from the day of dispatch.

Hey Jeff. You've answered a previous query of mine regarding Crocosmia and, once again, you seem to have put your finger on(or very near!) the problem here. I have checked out Phytophthora on Wikipedia and it sounds the likely culprit. Although, plenty of laurels are mentioned, but not Aucuba! But it does state laurels and that it can hit a variety of woody shrubs and cited cases involving Beech and Rhodadendron/azaelia in Cornwall 2003. I am in Plymouth, right on the Cornish border.
Thanks again, you're a very kind person and I'm so grateful for your knowledge (or sources!) and how soon you respond. Many thanks.

Terry Deans

On 20/02/2012 17:14, Terry Deans wrote:
'Jeff Layman[_2_ Wrote:
;951351']On 19/02/2012 20:33, Terry Deans wrote:-
Hope someone can help!?

Over the past two years, the Spotted Laurel in a large garden I've
been
working in have suffered almost total devastation with mass dying of
the
shrubs. I have been aware that the property next door is suffering
from
the same problem. The plants have started wilting first, then leaves
blackening and dying, then subsequently the whole plant dies right
down
to the roots.
I have posted/uploaded some photos, ranging from a healthy looking tip
to the inside of the dead trunk/stems showing the state left on the
inside. Also a couple of the dying and dead foliage/stems.
There are other 'laurels'(Bay,Portuguese and English) as well as
various
regular shrubs and trees of other species which are totally
unaffected.
Up to now, apart from asking anyone(gardeners/garden centre staff)
whom
I think might know the problem, I have cut out and burned all affected
plants as they occur and now have very little left with no signs of it
abaiting.

Thank you for any morcel of advice however small. The phots will
either
be linked on this post or on the Garden Photographs section under
'Dying
Aucuba!!'

Terry

[image: http://i40.tinypic.com/w2o7yq.jpg]
[image: http://i43.tinypic.com/kswh4.jpg]
[image: http://i42.tinypic.com/dea44y.jpg]
[image: http://i39.tinypic.com/ftlu6u.jpg]
[image: http://i41.tinypic.com/2uqjfyv.jpg]-

Aucuba are normally pretty resistant to disease. What you are
experiencing could well be related to root rot. Whether this is from
wet soil conditions or due to infestation by Phytophthora is difficult
to say (partial waterlogging can, however, make Phytophthora infection
more likely). If it was solely due to waterlogged soil I would expect
other species of plants to be affected. Phytophthora, however, is a
strange pathogen that can decimate certain species whilst leaving others

unaffected, so my money would be on Phytophthora.

If it is Phytophthora there is really nothing that can be done, or is
worth doing, to treat the Aucuba. Probably the best thing is to see
what plants remain healthy, and put in more of those. I wouldn't bother

trying to plant healthy Aucuba to replace those that have been lost.

--

Jeff

Hey Jeff. You've answered a previous query of mine regarding Crocosmia
and, once again, you seem to have put your finger on(or very near!) the
problem here. I have checked out Phytophthora on Wikipedia and it sounds
the likely culprit. Although, plenty of laurels are mentioned, but not
Aucuba! But it does state laurels and that it can hit a variety of woody
shrubs and cited cases involving Beech and Rhodadendron/azaelia in
Cornwall 2003. I am in Plymouth, right on the Cornish border.
Thanks again, you're a very kind person and I'm so grateful for your
knowledge (or sources!) and how soon you respond. Many thanks.


You are most welcome. That's the whole point of newsgroups - you just
pass on the assistance you've obtained from someone else.

FYI - some info on Aucuba and Phytophthora:
http://www.walterreeves.com/gardenin...ucuba-wilting/
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/not...od21aucuba.htm

--

Jeff

Thanks again, and for the useful links.

I'm do a small gardening maintenance business in Plymouth, SW England and, whilst I've always been a keen labourer from an early age in the garden (mainly veg gardens!), my eight years doing this work has opened up such a vast diversity of potential knowledge to me. I love to learn and regard myself as a developing 'apprentice', on the job, if you understand what i mean. I've learnt and progressed a fair bit but connecting with people like yourself who appear to have such a depth of knowledge is a privilage for me. Helps me to set goals for myself.

And, apart from that, your courtesy and genuine interest in helping us novices with our issues is the feature of your responses which I admire and am grateful for the most.

Best wishes

Terry