Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - March 18, 2010
From: flagstaff, AZ
Region: Southwest
Topic: Diseases and Disorders
Title: Need help with canker in willows in Flagstaff, AZ.
Answered by: Jimmy Mills
QUESTION:
We've got a lot of willows in high altitude desert conditions, irrigated. They've got canker and I want to know if there's anything I can paint on the pruning wounds when I go around trying to remove infected branches. otherwise I'm afraid of the pruning wounds just being new avenues for infection.ANSWER:
You don't mention the kind of willows that you have (there are 55 species of Salix in our NPIN Data Base), but many seem prone to having canker problems.
Lets look at the pruning paint question first, and then I'll provide some links that might helpful in dealing with the canker problem.
In the past, applying pruning paint to pruned branches was generally thought to be necessary to prevent infectious diseases and infestation by insects. The current thought is that in most cases it is not necessary, and that it may cause more harm than good. Here are a couple of links that support that idea.
This Bulletin from the Integrated Pest Management Program of the University of Illinois Extension, and this report from the University of Florida have some good information about canker in willows and the fungus that causes it.
More Diseases and Disorders Questions
Salvia, geum transplant shock symptoms
July 21, 2006 - I need some help. I transplanted 2 xeriscape plants and they are not doing
well. 1 is Pitcher Sage-sorry I don't know botanical name; the other is
White Avens. The've grown a lot but all the leave...
view the full question and answer
Black leaves and dying kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
December 16, 2007 - My kinnikinnick has developed dark leaf spots and, in some cases the entire leaf has turned black or entire plants have turned black and died off. I'm worried about leaf spot, root rot and leaf gall...
view the full question and answer
Texas wild olive tree
April 05, 2012 - I live in the Phoenix area.
My Texas wild olive (Cordia boissieri) is about 5 years old, about 12 feet tall and has beautiful blossoms all year long.
However, this past year (through all seasons...
view the full question and answer
Transplant shock in Vacccinum corymbosum (highbush blueberry)
June 28, 2007 - Blueberry plants -
We planted Northland and Blue Crop, 2 of each. All 4 plants have some leaves that are turning brown. This starts at the tip of the leaf, eventually encompasses the entire leaf, a...
view the full question and answer
Non-native invasive carrot wood tree losing leaves in Alpine CA
April 22, 2014 - My carrot wood tree is losing all of its leaves. The tree is about 15foot high & 13 years old. Could it be gophers? The tree was trimmed 1 year ago.
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |