Conifer hedge - dead patches - aphids?
 

I've got a conifer hedge which is about 6m long by 2.5m high
by 2m wide. I'm not sure what type of conifer -- I don't think
it's Leylandii as it doesn't grow that fast -- it only needs
one or occasionally two cuttings per year to keep it very
neat. I do normally keep it cut very square, but I noticed
brown areas on it earlier this year and wondered if I'd cut
it too much last year, so I've let it shoot a bit.

However, I've just heard about Leylandii aphids this year,
and the damage does seem to exactly fit with this. Reading
up, it seems I should cut the hedge as normal now, but not
in autumn. There's also talk of getting trees sprayed - is
that any good? I imagine spraying something of this size
effectively is a professional job? Won't it all wash off
next time it rains?

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Conifer hedge - dead patches - aphids?
 

"Andrew Gabriel" wrote in message
.. .
I've got a conifer hedge which is about 6m long by 2.5m high
by 2m wide. I'm not sure what type of conifer -- I don't think
it's Leylandii as it doesn't grow that fast -- it only needs
one or occasionally two cuttings per year to keep it very
neat. I do normally keep it cut very square, but I noticed
brown areas on it earlier this year and wondered if I'd cut
it too much last year, so I've let it shoot a bit.

However, I've just heard about Leylandii aphids this year,
and the damage does seem to exactly fit with this. Reading
up, it seems I should cut the hedge as normal now, but not
in autumn. There's also talk of getting trees sprayed - is
that any good? I imagine spraying something of this size
effectively is a professional job? Won't it all wash off
next time it rains?

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

RHS have detemined that cutting back conifer hedges in the autumn is the
biggest cause of browning followed by the conifer aphid

Conifer hedge - dead patches - aphids?
 

In article ,
"Campa-Man" writes:

"Andrew Gabriel" wrote in message
.. .
I've got a conifer hedge which is about 6m long by 2.5m high
by 2m wide. I'm not sure what type of conifer -- I don't think
it's Leylandii as it doesn't grow that fast -- it only needs
one or occasionally two cuttings per year to keep it very
neat. I do normally keep it cut very square, but I noticed
brown areas on it earlier this year and wondered if I'd cut
it too much last year, so I've let it shoot a bit.

However, I've just heard about Leylandii aphids this year,
and the damage does seem to exactly fit with this. Reading
up, it seems I should cut the hedge as normal now, but not
in autumn. There's also talk of getting trees sprayed - is
that any good? I imagine spraying something of this size
effectively is a professional job? Won't it all wash off
next time it rains?

RHS have detemined that cutting back conifer hedges in the autumn is the
biggest cause of browning followed by the conifer aphid

I don't think this one has ever been cut in the autumn
(at least in the 8 years I've lived here, and this has only
shown up this year). So, that's also pointing towards aphids
as the likely cause.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

The Leylandii-killing Cyprus aphid is the best gardening news I've heard for a long time. How can we encourage them?

Conifer hedge - dead patches - aphids?
 

"Andrew Gabriel" wrote in message
.. .
I've got a conifer hedge which is about 6m long by 2.5m high
by 2m wide. I'm not sure what type of conifer -- I don't think
it's Leylandii as it doesn't grow that fast -- it only needs
one or occasionally two cuttings per year to keep it very
neat. I do normally keep it cut very square, but I noticed
brown areas on it earlier this year and wondered if I'd cut
it too much last year, so I've let it shoot a bit.

However, I've just heard about Leylandii aphids this year,
and the damage does seem to exactly fit with this. Reading
up, it seems I should cut the hedge as normal now, but not
in autumn. There's also talk of getting trees sprayed - is
that any good? I imagine spraying something of this size
effectively is a professional job? Won't it all wash off
next time it rains?

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

I believe that the fungal disease Phythophthera can also be a probem with
evergreens. Indeed, I believe that may be the problem my Cryptomeria has.
I don't know if there's a remedy available to amateur gardeners at the
moment.

Spider

Conifer hedge - dead patches - aphids?
 

Spider wrote:

I believe that the fungal disease Phythophthera can also be a probem with
evergreens. Indeed, I believe that may be the problem my Cryptomeria has.
I don't know if there's a remedy available to amateur gardeners at the
moment.


Spider, we are using Aliette Express (from Rhone-Poulenc) to treat
phythophthera,
which can also attack maples. I don't know what the commercial name is in
the uk, but I'd give a soil drench a try for the cryptomeria.

Good luck,

-E

Conifer hedge - dead patches - aphids?
 

"Emery Davis" wrote in message
...
Spider wrote:

I believe that the fungal disease Phythophthera can also be a probem with
evergreens. Indeed, I believe that may be the problem my Cryptomeria
has. I don't know if there's a remedy available to amateur gardeners at
the moment.


Spider, we are using Aliette Express (from Rhone-Poulenc) to treat
phythophthera,
which can also attack maples. I don't know what the commercial name is in
the uk, but I'd give a soil drench a try for the cryptomeria.

Good luck,

-E

Thanks, Emery. Noted. I'm visiting my local GC tomorrow, so I'll see
what's available.

Spider

Hi, I'm quite a garden newbie. Is there a way to stimulate extra shoots / sideways growth? My tree has possibly suffered from over pruning over the years, and I want to encourage it to 'pad out' - any ideas, or is this not possible? Thanks