Red-Tipped Photinia in trouble

Two weeks ago I noticed a small area of our photinia looked bad. It was at the same time as the annual azalea caterpillar invasion and the damage was similar, so I suspected it was insect damage.

However, the caterpillars are gone and over the past few days the damage has spread significantly to almost a third of this very large shrub.

Here is a photo of it. On the left you can see the way the whole thing used to look.

I'll follow up with a close-up.

If you know what this is, please let me know. This is a beautiful plant and I'd be very sad to lose it.
Thanks!!
Deb

Here's a closer look.

Deb,
I don't know if you remember, but a few years ago there was some sort of virus spreading through the southeast that was killing off red tips.......I always heard that it was because ired tips were so overused and it had weakened them and made them susceptible to this virus. That's why you didn't seem them in the box stores or nurseries for years. I am just starting to see them available again. I don't know if this is what you've got, but I wonder.........

Seemed to affect many, but not all. I remember seeing them side by side with one dying and the one beside it fine.

Maybe someone else will pop in with better info and thoughts.

BDunn, I think you may be referring to Entomosporium leaf spot, which first appears as spots on the leaves. These leaves look wilted, and i have no idea what causes that. Maybe a root problem causing the plant not to get enough water? I had a cherry laurel do the same thing recently. It just wilted and died with no visible cause. I'm not sure of borers will attack Photinia, but check for any small holes in the lower trunk.

You might also check to see if there's a major branch on that side of the tree that's been bent/broken/chewed on real close to the base, that could make all the branches that come out of that one wilt while the rest looks fine. Most times when I've seen a plant in my garden where part looks wilted and part looks fine it's been something along those lines. Or the other possibility is some sort of root fungus, if that's the case it'll continue to spread to the rest of the plant. Most of that sort of root problem that I've run into there's no cure for it, but it might be worth taking some to your county extension office and see if they know what type of fungus is causing it, maybe there are some that you can do something about.

I agree with ecrane3 about the possibility of the main stem being chewed by rat/mice/etc. I've also seen this when kids get in the shrub/tree and stand on the stems and break a stem. Take a very close look at the main stem of the affected side. Could it be overdry?

Deb, it is a root fungus, and it is caused by the build up of leaves under the plant.Rake the leaves out, and get rid of them, because it spreads in that.After removing the "mulch", spray with a good funguside in the ground around the plants.I lost all of mine fast, so this is eperiance talking.Mike

So much good information!


Growin': It's surely overdry. On-going drought here.
Ecrane: I'll also check near the base to see if anything's broken or damaged.
Esc'guy: Ditto. I'll check for borers.
Mike: If it's not obviously one of the above,...then I'll do as you suggest tomorrow morning.

BDunn: My very first thought was that "blight" that killed so many of these. I'll go through all the other suggestions and just hope it's not that.

Thanks everyone! This is a lovely big Photinia and I'd be so sad to see it die.
Deb

I went out and did closer inspection this morning. No sign of borers. All the wilt seems to be on the growth from one of the main branches, but it's difficult to see if it's been broken or damaged in any way. (I have the scratches to show for my attempt to get in there and look at it.)

So, I figure it can't hurt to get it water and to treat for the fungus. Any ideas as to which I should do first? Mike?
Deb

If you've been in a drought and haven't been giving it much supplemental water, being too dry is more likely than a root fungus in my opinion. Although usually I would expect if it was too little water, the whole plant would be affected not just part of it, whereas fungal problems often do manifest themselves like that. So it's hard to say, but the fungi tend to be more of a problem if the plant's been getting enough or maybe a little too much water. So personally I'd probably give it a good deep soaking first and see if it perks up a bit. But if you've got a bunch of leaves on the ground under there it definitely wouldn't hurt to get those out of there just in case, and if it doesn't show any signs of perking up after you water it, then try to treat for fungi. Fungi in the soil are very hard to treat though, some you may be able to get rid of by treating the soil with fungicide but a lot of times there's really not much you can do besides try to figure out what fungus it is, and make sure the next plant you put in that spot is something that's resistant to it.

Thanks, Ecrane. Crossing my fingers. :)
Deb