Monday, March 12, 2012

This changes everything…

Last week while in the midst of my Spring fever induced garden clean up I found myself focusing on the Rhododendron for the first time in months. I finally realized that something wasn’t right, it was yellow. I took a close-up look at the leaves and saw this:
I turned them over, the backside of every leaf looked like this:
In that moment everything changed. It isn’t that I love the Rhodie, in fact I don’t even think about it. It’s just there, acting as a giant green room divider between the upper yard and the lower patio areas. Here’s a picture from last summer…
See how it’s performing its job so well? Imagine this scene without the wall of green, not the same right? I’ve kept pruning it back so that it doesn’t crowd the Yucca rostrata too badly; new growth was always there to hide any holes I created. Not anymore, when I peak into the interior of the plant it’s just empty gangly branches. Here are a couple of pictures taken last week, so you can see its immense size.
As I took these photos I was still in the “I’ve got to find out what’s wrong with it and save it phase”…but then a funny thing happened. Within a period of about 4 hours I had processed the fact that it was sick and decided it just needed to go away. And now I have MORE ROOM TO PLANT! How often does that happen? You’re about to enter the eighth season of gardening in one place and suddenly you have an entirely new area to fill with plants? I am worried that it is going to take awhile for the area to fill in, the patio won’t be so “private feeling” and that when you walk into the back yard you will now be able to see though to the neighbors yard. But then I think about putting in plants I love and watching them grow and all that fades away. Maybe I’ll even be able to buy one of those shrubs I’ve been lusting after!
I am still curious what is wrong with the Rhododendron, I am worthless at identifying pests and diseases, do you know? Is it something I need to worry about moving into other plants, especially the ones I plant in this area once the Rhodie is cleared out?
So there you have it, the story of how my Spring suddenly took on another project…

**update, according to the Multnomah County Master Gardeners both Lace Bugs and Thrips cause damage like this. They directed me here to learn about treatment and said the treatment is the same no matter which pest is causing the damage**

23 comments:

  1. Not much help here in diagnosing what's wrong with your rhododendron, shame to see it go but also exciting times ahead as you now gain a new planting space! Whatever you choose to go in it should fill up that space nicely even if it takes a bit of time. So many lovely shrubs and small trees to choose from, perhaps to go with tr shrub you coveted a while ago. Looking forward to seeing what you decided to replace your rhododendron with :)

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    1. It's nice to hear that there are others who don't know what it is. I sometimes feel like the whole gardening world is on top of these things and I'm the one left without a clue!

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  2. Oh no! I think it looks like rust...but not sure about how it manifests on Rhodies. This is probably one of the effects of our abnormally mild winter. I've been a little worried about things like this popping up in my garden as well. Actually, have found Powdery Mildew on Agastaches that NEVER get infected otherwise. Le Sigh. I think you're totally right to pull it out...especially if you're not attached to it. There is such a great elation when you suddenly have a new spot with new possibilities. Now I just need to rip out my Laurel ;-)

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    1. I thought Rust too, I mean why not? It certainly looks rusty (on the underside) but what I found online and in talking with a neighbor it sounds like it's not. I can't picture your Laurel. Maybe I need to go back and study some pictures from your blog? Is it providing privacy? That's the one factor that can convince me to keep just about anything!

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  3. Your rhodie has lace bug and it's very common.

    Mine all had it, and it could be treated, but in the end I simply got rid of rhododendrons in my garden. Like you, I realized I could free up space for plants that performed better. The green mass of that rhododendron will be missed, but you really don't want to spend time treating lace bug every year. Plant something else and enjoy!

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    1. Well a quick google and it certainly looks like you've called it! And you're right, I'm not into coddling my plants (unless of course they're Agaves) so treating every year doesn't sound good. Of course now I am worried about the Rhodie in the front garden and if I should be taking preemptive measures out there. Research time! Thank you.

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  4. No "after" photo? :-) I too removed a large shrub this weekend, and although I thought I'd miss it, I don't -- not at all.

    If you do find yourself missing the "wall", there are lots of big-leaved plants that you could put into pots as a temporary solution.

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    1. "after" as you think I've already removed it? You're funny. No I continued plugging away on the Bishops Weed project. We don't have any extra space to store branches and limbs. I'll have to work at it every week sending what I can out in the yard waste until we're down to the thick branches and stump, then the husband will bring the work truck home, we'll dig out the remains and cart it away. It may take a month but c'est la vie!

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  5. Unfortunately, I'm useless and identifying pests myself, but I agree that this is a great opportunity. Any ideas what you might plant? This is not a decision to be made lightly, seeing how it affects a central area of your garden.

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    1. I contacted Poots Nursery, after reading how cheap you got your trunking Y. rostrata because first on my list is another one of those. They have one of decent size but they are so far away from where we'll be when we come down for the SF Garden show that I don't think we'll make it over there. Bummer! Because money is an issue, and the space is really large, I think first I'll start by planting things I already have there. A couple of things I need to move (Ginkgo, Trachy), as well as a couple of things I've already bought this season (Banksia, Grevillea)...it is will be in my usual "mash-up" style. (probably)

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  6. I don't know how serious you are about researching the rhody problem, but here's a link to the Portland chapter of the society: http://www.rhodies.org/
    They have sales every spring at the Crystal Springs garden, and there are always society members there, willing (eager, even) to answer questions.

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    1. Thank you Ricki! At this point I guess I most want to research how to keep the issue from spreading, so this link is very helpful!

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  7. Hmmm, I wonder if another leafy (but smaller leafed) shrub could replace it, like a manzanita or a silktassel? Chinese photinias used to be available here to do that same effect as a Rhodie, but they are no longer sold...maybe there?

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    1. You know (well, maybe you do) that I love the Garrya (silk tassel) and it's definitely under consideration. Oddly I'm not sure if I want a Manzanita in the back garden, it has a different tone than the front (where there already are 3). I am also concerned about getting too carried away with something that will gain a lot of height because of the Privet. But then again once it started to get tall we could get rid of that part of the Privet...!

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    2. Maurice did a post on the Joy Creek blog just lately about pruning his
      Garrya so that the tassles have ample room to cascade...just might cinch the deal for you.

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  8. As happy as I am with a limited number of rhodies in my garden, I'm just like you if it means coddling or treating anything in the ground repeatedly: out! Glad you got a diagnosis and hope it doesn't spread. The Master Gardeners are very good at diagnosing problems, and can work from photos sent to their email (mcmastergardeners@yahoo.com). They could probably advise you further on lace bug issues.
    Having made the decision to remove the rhody, enjoy the fun of figuring out what to put there instead!

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    1. Thank you so much Jane, contacting them was on "my list" but you just made it a lot easier!

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  9. If you want to save it you can coat as much of it as you can with a dormant oil spray. This will suffocate any eggs that have been laid depriving them of oxygen. This treatment is fairly low on the environmental impact level, but if you want to try something stronger there are a number of systemic controls that you mix in a bucket and "water" the roots with. These usually protect the plant for a year, but will kill off any living thing in the soil.

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    1. Wow thanks Les! I'm not sure I want to go to those ends but it's fabulous to have this information if I need it in the future.

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  10. I think your rhody problem is most likely just a case of thrips. Dormant oil spray on the foliage top and bottom a few weeks apart should take care of it. Thrips build up in milder winters or where there isn't good air circulation, and is very common on rhododendrons here in Berkeley. I also find it useful to strip off the older most infected leaves and bag them. Jet washing the undersides of the foliage with a pressure nozzle also helps, as does improving micro nutrients by mulching with kelp or worm castings. If you want a more resistant rhododendron, species with fuzzy leaf undersides are generally immune to thrips.

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    1. That poor Rhodie isn't exactly ideally placed to keep it healthy so with the addition of a mild winter it sounds like it was bound to happen. Yuck. Thank you for this info, and how did you know I'd love an excuse to get a Rhodie with the fuzzy leaf undersides?

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  11. Sure looks like classic thrip damage to me Loree, we get the little buggers here in norcal But the back of the leaf usually has black spots (frass) and yours do look more rust-like. I took out a few really large shrubs this winter--the garden looks a bit barren , but all that space !!

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    1. Wow two votes for thrips in a row! I also sent pictures to the local Master Gardeners to see what they say (haven't heard yet). Ugh.

      It's a trade off isn't it? Space...new plants...but the loss of something established is hard!

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