I live in DFW also and have been concerned about the number of unhealthy or dead trees in our area. I have a live oak that has black knots on the branches, and two bradford pears (2 year old plantings) in the back of the house, one in the front. The two in the back started showing signs of stress in early spring (droopy leaves, slight discoloration, then a few small branches with leaves that looked burnt and brown. I had an arborist come out and look at them (waste of money around here...he was fairly clueless), took samples to local nurseries, and did research myself. If one person would say bugs, the other would say drought, and yet another would say fungus (but none of them knew what kind). All told me to treat the trees with a fungal/insecticide mixture. After treatment, one of the back yard pears browned and died in a week, the other has held on for months but now is browning quickly. The trees in front are starting to show the same pattern of tree death as are many, MANY trees and bushes of all ages, types and sizes in the Arlington/Grand Prairie area. I just cannot figure out what is going on. Apparently, neither can the professionals. I, like many around here, am urgently looking for answers.

I have a young NM Privet. The leaves began to yellow. Turned out I was not giving it enough water. I think you should call the nursery and ask. Are you watering the pot from the top or the bottom, or both? I water plants in large pots at both ends to make sure all roots receive moisture. Lorna

Hello wisconsitom – Thank you for your response. Here are some additional details… I’m located in Zone 7, Long Island NY. This privet hedge is approximately 2.5 years old and had been healthy (at least in appearance) in the beginning of the Spring. They were purchased from a very good nursery and I believe they were in burlap as opposed to pots but I’m not certain anymore as I had both. I trim them on a regular basis and I believe that I have trimmed the hedge twice this year. This property had been neglected for many years and this entire area had been dead trees, brush, and invasive vines like English Ivy and other species whose names escape me. I cleared the property approximately three years ago and planted a perimeter of various shrubs …I have several sections of Privet around the property. This particular section looked very healthy and full, I have been keeping it low and trimming in a pear shaped formation to make certain the bottom gets sun and stays green. The soil is very fertile, it has excellent drainage and gets a good amount of sun each day. Our spring has been pretty good, I usually supplement water if there is any dry spells. There is no grass within 10 feet of this hedge … I have put down both a pre-emergent and broadleaf control, but not in close proximity. I use arborists wood chips as mulch, but I have not recently mulched this area – this is where I get concerned about the Honey Fungus. The thinning of the leaves was very sudden and I’m concerned whatever is causing it might spread … Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

If you want a tall, narrowish, dense hedge as soon as possible, place a 6-8' stake near the base and tie those long whips to the stake vertically. Keep tying as new whips develop. Regular watering for plentiful growth is needed. The stems will firm up and remain vertical, and then branch off, forming the basic vertical structure for a plant that is taller and more narrow than those left to themselves. The branches can then be clipped to form the hedge. This is a recent method growers are now using for Ligustrum japonicum used for hedging, as the demand in Southern California is for tall narrow privacy as lots get smaller and smaller. Some place like Walter Andersen Nursery may have examples of these for sale in the 10-20 gallon size that you can have a look at to see how it is done. The stake on these is just visible in the red circle: Then you end up with this: