Knowledgebase

'Mud ball' #786392

Asked April 10, 2022, 8:01 PM EDT

3 photos, 'mud ball' is about center. Location, Columbia, MD. Condo association. We are wondering if this is normal or if the bushes next to them will become 'infected.' I did not break apart the 'mud ball' for fear I would spread anything encased. You can get an idea of the size by looking at the window in the back. Thank you. I recall these bushes have scale on them late in the season but last year it appeared in June. We pointed it out to the landscapers who take care of the condo grounds but got no answer as to what they would do about the scale (I believe it cuts short the life of the bush from what I read).

Howard County Maryland

Expert Response


Hi!

Crown gall is what you are looking at, although I like your name of mud ball! The shrubs appear to be euonymus and the a bacteria called Agrobacterium tumefaciens can cause crown gall can form on roots or stems of plants. More information on crown gall can be found here: https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/crown-gall.

Crown gall cannot be eliminated completely, but sometimes the infected areas can be pruned out to improve aesthetics. In this case, I would recommend following the steps here to remove and destroy the plant.  The landscaper should consider planting a resistant species. Since the bacteria lives in the soil, crown gall may appear on nearby euonymus shrubs in the future.



Jamie


Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied April 12, 2022, 12:27 PM EDT

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