Magnolia problems

willow5465 · May 2023

Hi all need some assistance with my magnolia. The bottom leaves and branches are really sticky, I can't see anything that might cause it. I have a few dark round spots with fluffy white underneath about 1 on each leaf (see pic), but can remove it and there is no damage on the leaf. I had this last year but not the stickiness, it doesn't seem to do anything to the leaf and the stickiness is catching the aphids so that's good. But just want to know what could be causing these and if I need to do anything.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/pu/fi57yp110cn1.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/qh/5a0a6c26tx6l.jpg

Thank you

Ceres · May 2023

What you have there is an outbreak of scale insects. The sticky stuff on the leaves is often the first sign that anything is amiss.

https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/solve-problems/scale-insects/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/advice/pests_and_diseases/identifier.shtml?scale_insects

Some scale insects are very good at hiding on the underside of leaves by getting very close to the midrib of the leaf and looking for all the world like a patch of discolouration. You can easily remove them with a fingernail but with something the size of a tree, follow the advice in the above links.

willow5465 · May 2023

The little blighters were hiding on the branches hence I couldn't see them. So now looking carefully and removing what I see, and a trip to the garden centre on Saturday, Thank you Ceres for the advice much appreciated.

Magnolia problems

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