Winter damage on cherry laurel
Tree and shrub problems, to a large degree, are not due to diseases or insects. They are often referred to as abiotic (Latin word meaning “without life”) causes.
It may take a long time for abiotic problems to cause symptoms or a problem and sometimes it can appear that a plant died very suddenly, even overnight. But, by the time one notices that a tree or shrub is dying, it is often too late to correct the problem. It is important to recognize these symptoms early and try to correct the adverse conditions causing them.
Determining the difference between the “symptom” and the “sign” of a problem is the first step in making a diagnosis. A “symptom” is an unnatural change in a plant’s appearance or growth caused by one or more factors. Example: wilting of leaves or early fall color. A “sign” is the actual presence of organisms such as insects, mites, or mushrooms. Examples: Insect droppings on leaves; the white coating on crepe myrtle leaves caused by the powdery mildew fungus.
Symptoms of drought-stressed leaves (leaf curl and scorch)
A sign of cottony camellia scale (white, waxy covering
protecting eggs laid by the female scales)
Trees planted in natural areas and native soil have a much longer life-span than trees planted in a typical home or commercial landscape.
Adapted from publication HG 201 Homeowner Landscape Series: Common Cultural and Environmental Problems in Landscapes, Authors: Dave Clement, Ph.D., Principal Agent, University of Maryland Extension and Mary Kay Malinoski, Principal Agent, University of Maryland Extension. And publication HG 86 Common Abiotic Plant Problems, Author: Raymond Bosmans, Professor Emeritus University of Maryland.
Edited by Jon Traunfeld, HGIC Director and University of Maryland Extension Specialist. Complied by Debra Ricigliano, HGIC.