Melaleuca linariifolia Leaf Disfigurement

[Stu]

Hoping someone can help with disfigured leaves on M. linariifolia.

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As you can see I hope, some leaves are affected others aren't. I have more of these trees, also a mix of disfigured and not.
I have tried systemic controls, fungicide with no improvement. This has been the case for a few years now. It rarely seems to kill the tree.
Any ideas out there?

[TajikBen]

I get exactly the same issue. Last year it seemed to reduce after I used a systemic, but this year it has made no difference.

They grow wild across the road from my house, and all the trees (at least the short ones where I can easily see the top) seem to have the same issue, so I’ve given up. I removed all the trees from my mini forest and just kept the one that seems to be least affected.

[Stu]

Some of the others I have were grown from seed to get unaffected trees but some of these copped it after a season or so too.

[tgward]

(If you don't want to use chemicals) I would keep them separate from other plants and remove all distorted leaves as soon as noticed. Observe the regrowth and remove affected leaves again-----observe-- If third time distorted,bin it

[Stu]

Finally got fed up waiting for the leaves to improve so I cut right back to bare trunks. About two weeks before I noticed buds. So far so good.

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[Rory]

Dont bin them. Make sure they're getting full sun.

If that was me, I would spray with a Confidor type equivalent, & also Pyrethrum.

Spray with Pyrethrum first, then a few days later spray with Confidor. Repeat this after about a week.
Also, make sure you aren't getting this on other trees too.

Oh, and very important.... don't spray either of these products in the morning if its going to be hot and sunny, or on a day of full sun and over about 26 degrees. Best to spray these products in the late evening, at dusk....so it works its magic through the night, and doesn't kill the foliage if you spray on a very hot day.

I would also water the trees in the morning, then spray them in the evening... that way its not heavily impacting the tree with such an intense shock. I've never had a great outcome by spraying chemicals on a bonsai with a somewhat dry mix.

[Stu]

I have tried spraying earlier. I tried anti-fungal, pyrethrin, liquid and granular systemic (not at the same time). None had an affect. That's why I chopped.
Dept of Ag suggested weed spray, possibly blow-in. Hard to confirm that.