Escallonia

Hello all you knowledgeable folk.

I have a question here from a Portuguese forum member who lives 'up north' that is hotter and colder than us down south.

He has an Escallonia hedge with a problem .. here is what he says ...

"Any ideas on controlling or eradicating disease on our Escalonia Hedges, preferably non chemical or as drastic as removing

We have extensive hedging around perimeters and seem to have a fungal disease, shows as a black spot on leaves but not on every individual plant, leaves then go yellow, brown and fall, severe cases some plants seem to have died back totally but there are buds on bare stems, overall hedges very see thru. "

Any ideas? Thank you in advance.

 

Sounds like Escallonia leaf spot.

That link gives a para on non chemical control.

I've got it on three of my Escallonias which I bought last year. I've used fungicide on mine though (Bayer Fungus Control). Haven't noticed much difference yet but I'll persevere and see what happens. I think it's been caused by the wet conditions where the Escallonia are so they are going to have to be moved regardless.

So gardening lesson number 1 for this year : Escallonia don't like my wet northern garden.

 

Oh, thank you so much merleworld .. I will immediately pass this information on to my forum colleaague here.

 

Escallonia leaf spot is decimating plants in my area. The problem is the young leaves that generate soon become affected again and the plant gets weakened.
I have already had to remove one hedge and replace it with Red Robin. More to be taken out soon. Don't think fungicides will help much unless you spray them very regularly.

 

Merleworld you're right, Escallonia's are perfect for sandy, free-draining soils like mine. I have an eighty foot hedge and it's been suffering for the last three years because it has been so wet here in the north west, through the summers as well.

It's fairly tough though and I'm hoping it will hang on until we, hopefully get some better weather.

Victoria, I wouldn't get rid just yet.