Lemon Tree Flower Drop might seem tragic, but that doesn’t put an end to your harvest. Wondering how? Check out our detailed article on How to Get More Fruits on Your Lemon Tree for the answer!
24.07.2023 - 12:02 / hgic.clemson.edu
You may have noticed your evergreen shrubs and trees shedding yellow and brown leaves this spring. It seems unusual, but it could be a normal leaf and needle drop. While some may believe that evergreen leaves last forever, the truth is that their leaves may only last for a short time, often between one to a few years. Sometimes normal leaf drop goes unnoticed in the fall, for example, with pines and azaleas, because it coincides with the normal shedding of leaves in deciduous plants. As the dormant deciduous plants leaf out in the spring, it seems unnatural for hollies, live oaks, and magnolias to lose their leaves. Is this a distress call for help? Not necessarily.
Evergreens normally shed their oldest leaves and needles, which are closer to the trunk than the newly emerged younger leaves at the ends of branches. Like car tires that need to be replaced after several thousands of miles, the plant will replace these older, compromised leaves naturally.
As the older leaves turn from green to yellow, red, or brown, some of their contents, notably nitrogen and phosphorus, get recycled back into the plant. With normal leaf drop, the new young leaves at the ends of the branches appear healthy and green. This out-with-the-old-and-in-with-the-new growth stage may occur over several days to several weeks.
Not all leaf-shedding is normal, especially when the new growth is affected or when all of the leaves turn yellow or brown. Drought or injury from voles, insects, or diseases also cause leaf drop. In addition, low soil fertility, waterlogged soils, or a high soil pH can turn the leaves yellow.
For more information, see HGIC 2353, Leaf & Needle Drop.
Lemon Tree Flower Drop might seem tragic, but that doesn’t put an end to your harvest. Wondering how? Check out our detailed article on How to Get More Fruits on Your Lemon Tree for the answer!
Before the Autumn leaf colours start to invade our senses I am just recapping on the leaves that have made an impact for me this summer.
Leaf miners are the larvae of moths, beetles, maggots, flies or caterpillars that have hatched between the upper and lower epidermis of a leaf. They then burrow there way out eating part of the leaf and leaving a trail.
Here are the Most Beautiful Types of Big Leaf Caladium Varieties that will surely turn a lot of heads with their big, bold, and fantastic foliage!
Airborne fungal spores land on buds to infest newly-emerging leaves in spring. The fungus feeds on the young leaves and affects their development so that they become distorted. The smaller leaf size makes them less efficient at making food for the plant and in its weakened state, the flowers and fruit fall off. Trees may recover sufficiently to make a second flush of growth and these leaves are usually unaffected by the fungus. Fungus survives on fallen leaves and branches to re-infect next season’s buds.
Have you noticed the persistent brown leaves still hanging on some deciduous trees long after their foliar companions have fallen? This usually becomes very apparent after normal leaf drop in early winter. These brown leaves may remain attached until spring bud growth pushes them free.
Perennial vines in the genus Vinca have proved to be sturdy and seemingly indestructible groundcovers for the Southeastern Unites States. However, over the past few years, vinca leaf-folder caterpillars have been ravaging landscape plantings of perennial vincas (Vinca major andVinca minor). Both can be infested, but V. major seems to sustain more damage. According to Dr. Matt Bertone, Entomologist at NC State University, this pest is likely Diaphania costata.
Soon, ghosts and goblins will take to the streets to celebrate this season for the macabre. Today, Halloween is an occasion for dressing up in costumes and trick-or-treating. Its origins include pagan and Christian observances commemorating seasonal harvests and the memories of loved ones who have passed away.
Leaf color change is one of the most iconic events that define the fall season. In a matter of days, the green color gives way to bright yellow, orange, and red hues. The appearance of these colors not only increases the beauty of our forests but also helps the growth of our orchards and backyard trees. These fall colors are created by pigments such as ß-carotene, anthocyanin, or lutein. Some may wonder, “why would trees spend energy in creating these pigments right when they are about to drop their leaves?” The answer is that the strategy is not about spending but saving for the next season.
This leaf is showing symptoms of a fungal disease called large leaf spot (Monochaetia sp.) that affects oaks and chestnuts. The appropriately named spots may reach 2 inches wide and stretch across the entire leaf, killing large amounts of tissue.
This Napa cabbage is being fed on by larvae of both the yellow margined leaf beetle (YMLB, Microtheca ochroloma) and vegetable weevil (Listroderes difficilis). YMLB can be a significant pest for organic production, especially turnips and Napa cabbage, which they prefer.
Cut leaf evening primrose (Oenothera laciniata) is a native, biannual plant. It forms a rosette during its first year of growth and produces yellow flowers on low spreading stems in its second year. The pretty, yellow flowers open in the evening and close during bright, sunny conditions Flowering will last for over a month, and sphinx moths and native bees pollinate the flowers. Unfortunately, the plant also hosts the tarnished plant bug, a piercing, sucking insect that feeds on vegetable and ornamental herbaceous plants.