Advice on dying tree

[Taupotreeman]

I've just been called out to have a look at a clients tree. Apparently a few months ago one of its branches began to have the foliage brown off. Within a month two thirds of the tree has browned off. The leaves are soft to the touch rather than dry and brittle. There are no signs of poisononing and a tree within two metres of it is fine and dandy. The land owners have also had issues with Rhododendrons around the garden turning yellow and dying. They have an irrigation system that waters the area although it has been very dry here for the past couple of months until recent heavy rains. No photos at the monet but any ideas out there?

[janey]

Sounds like something's affecting the vascular system, but what that "something" is, I haven't a clue! What's the tree spp.?

[Taupotreeman]

At the moment I have no idea. It's a NZ native but that's as far as I've got I'm afraid. There's still some live foliage left on it but with the speed of the die back on the rest of the tree I'd imagine it won't be long before it's all brown. The tree is about 15 feet high. I can get photos if that's of any help.

[mrtree]

Scrape the bark with your finger to see if there is brown/black staining.

 

Dig the soil, does it smell earthy or rotten?

 

Get your handlens out and look for bugs.

[Stephen Blair]

fell it and plant 2 pops:biggrin:

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

absolute typical honey, would definitely look under the bark of affected plants.

[Taupotreeman]

Couple of pictures if that helps. The bark is way too hard to scrape off without a knife. No real smell from the earth around although there is a small soil build up (about 15-20cm square) to one side (with the sprinkler on it) that smells faintly shroomy. The Manuka and other trees to the side of the declining one seem unaffected though Rhodies further around the garden keep dying off. Not sure if the two are related.

[Stephen Blair]

absolute typical honey, would definitely look under the bark of affected plants.

 

I have a cousin over there Taupo, he is an expert in Honey. His nane is Yogi Blair, look him up, he will confirm it from 200metres:lol:

[mrtree]

Scrape the bark of the small branches, not the trunk

[Taupotreeman]

Dear oh dear oh dear.