otto luyken laurels dropping leaves/white stuff on branches - Ask Extension
These are well-established plants that I put in about 5 years ago. They've been gorgeous and have thrived up until last summer. There's a white coat...
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otto luyken laurels dropping leaves/white stuff on branches #233242
Asked March 27, 2015, 2:24 PM EDT
These are well-established plants that I put in about 5 years ago. They've been gorgeous and have thrived up until last summer. There's a white coating on the branches and leaves are dropping. I noticed it last summer/fall. There's a whole row of them, and only the ones on one end are affected. These get more sun than the rest.
Around the side of the house, we have cherry laurels and more otto luyken laurels that both have brown spots on their leaves and little white bundles on the branches. They get full sun.
Thanks for your help!
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
The white stuff on the the stems appears to be scale insects, applying a dormant oil spray before new growth appears will help suppress the problem. During the growing season a light weight horticultural oil will suppress the insect and not affect the beneficial insects. The leaf spots appearing on the leaves will not affect the overall health of the shrub. If control is desired, apply a fungicide on the new growth. Because of the cold and windy conditions of the past winter, many leaves will appear brown, they will eventually drop as new leaves appear.
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