Terminal Pyracantha

[Alan Peck]

Sad to say but from a great healthy tree with good potential to a tree that looks destined for the garden waste bin. Any ideas on rejuvinating this is welcome.
Thinking I should stand it in a solution of Seasol as a desperate attempt of rescue.
Tree was 'recued' April 09 and has been in a crate untill Nov last year. Potted up with minimum root prune and top work. New soil mix, never dried out and in semi shade when observed to be in trouble
Started dying at xmas from the trunk out like the black death.
Any suggestions PLEASE.

PyraBefore.JPG

DSC05776.JPG

DSC05777.JPG

[Michael]

Gday Alan

I to had one do the exact same thing and when i removed it from its pot found 9 curl grubs had all but destroyed the root system may be worth a look.Ive actually found them in another yet not in my other species maybe there a favourite food of the little buggers.

Goodluck with it mate

Cheers Mick

[Mojo Moyogi]

I wonder, could you kill curl grubs by immersing the tree in a mild soap solution for 24-48 hrs, thus drowning them? It might be worth trying rather than pulling trees out of their soil.

Cheers,
Mojo

[kcpoole]

I wonder, could you kill curl grubs by immersing the tree in a mild soap solution for 24-48 hrs, thus drowning them? It might be worth trying rather than pulling trees out of their soil.

Cheers,
Mojo

Yes that should get rid of them
Looks like dehydration to me but may well be fungus
Slip it out of the pot without diturbing roots too much and see what gives there
check they are not all black and dead, or eaten by grub etc

If they are dead then cut them back and repot. I knwo not a good idea at this time of year, but if they are rotting, better to get rid of them

Ken

[Alan Peck]

Just had it out of the pot.
All looks fine, no grubs just a few red ants. Damp and well drained.
New soil with no osmacote and a gentle repot with light spray of pyretheum for the top.
Shall go more sparingly with the watering and cross my fingers and talk to it every day.

[kcpoole]

Hope all is ok
Nice to know nothing major wrong, so keep us updated please

Ken

[MelaQuin]

To me the pot is too shallow. Pyras like to be a bit overpotted as they tend to be thirsty and this is a pretty solid tree for a pot that size. If the tree were mine I would be putting it in a pot where the trunk could be away from the side and with a bit more depth. I'd cut off the top dead bits [with someone holding the trunk steady] and keep it in morning sun and afternoon shade.

I hope you can pull it off and bring the tree back - it is too nice to lose and I wish you luck. I have several pyras and lost one [luckily of no great importance and in early training] and have had others that withstood several severe knocks so there is no telling. Again, good luck.