Marianne's Response

Sick Japanese Snowbell

Hi, I’ve had a japanese snowbell that keeps getting sick and every time I think I should cut it down, it seems to have new life. I’m just not sure what to do. The back half is dead and the front half is not! It definitely has a wound that has oozed in the spring the past couple of years. And lots of times, the healthy new spring growth has a sudden die off. I should probably put it out of it’s misery. Please advise.
Thanks!
Jill
PS It is only letting me upload one picture. I have 2..one of front and one of back. Will submit 2nd picture with same question.

Posted by Jill Gifford on May 13, 2019

Marianne's Response

The short answer to this is to give it the ax. A snowbell that is oozing from a wound sounds infected and you do not want this disease to spread. My sympathies. Do not plant the same type of plant in an area where you lost a similar species to disease. The Japanese snowbell or Styrax japonica is also susceptible to a beetle infestation. Look for tiny holes in the bark near the wound site. Do not compost or leave the infested bark or branches on the tree. So sorry but I could not view any of your pictures. This small tree also resents soil that is poorly drained or too wet. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti

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