Pittosporums in my garden are dying back in parts. Is there something I can do?
Yes, and you’d be advised to act quickly. When plants are stressed, such as over this abnormally hot Summer we’ve just had, they become more susceptible to pests and diseases. Scale is a pest that can be deadly to Pittosporum if not treated quickly with white oil. The natural predators of scale are lacewing larvae and ladybirds. Scale can be identified by tiny, hard, black shell-like shapes stuck to the stems of the plant under which the insects hide, and a black sooty mould on the foliage. White oil destroys the insects by smothering them. The white oil may need to be repeated to destroy newly hatched insects. If necessary, ask for advice at your local garden centre.
