How to control psyllids on lilly pilly?

[eloise89]

I have tried heavy pruning (removing stems with the bumps), white oil and batythroid spray on my lilly pilly but no to avail. They keep coming back. Feels like a losing battle. Should I just completely remove them?

[JacobZ]

Hi @eloise89,

I'm sorry to hear you are having so many issues with your lilly pillies. 

I'd suggest increasing the frequency of your eco oil applications to once a week. Ensure you thoroughly spray the undersides of the leaves and any hidden branches. If you find this is not helpful, you could try the same approach with this Yates Advanced Garden Insect Killer, ensuring the leaves are thoroughly coated, top and bottom.

Building up the plant's immunity, through improved soil health and fertilisation, can also help. Use Dynamic Lifter to improve overall plant health. Healthy plants are more resistant to pests, so also ensure your Lilly Pilly is well-watered.

Keep a close eye on your plants and prune any new infested growth promptly. Dispose of the pruned material away from your garden to prevent reinfestation.

If the problem persists, unfortunately, you may need to replace them with more resilient plants.

Allow me to tag @Noelle and @mich1972 for their thoughts.

Jacob

[mich1972]

Good afternoon @eloise89 Yes, Psyllids are a common insect that attacks Lilly Pilly. Can be a nuisance but it is treatable. Jacob has given great advice. Just follow his advice. Don’t be afraid to cut them hard , they are very forgiving when they are pruned back hard, trust me, I do it to my Bush Christmas Lilly Pilly and it works a treat. Make sure to collect all of the prunings and put them in the bin, don’t leave them lying around on the ground. Once pruned, start spraying all over and underneath the leaves too. Be patient as you can have a great healthy hedge. Good luck and keep in touch 🙂🌿