How to treat holes in Dracena?

[ecross7]

Dear All,

    Last Monday night, it was very windy and one of the branches (1.5m tall) of the Dracena has fallen down. Upon closer inspection the following morning, there were many small holes near the ground (where it broke). Would anyone know what made those small holes? I am worried that the same may be happening to other branches.

    Many thanks for your help.

             holes on the bottom of the fallen branchesholds on branches           this is the ground part where it broke

Cheers,

Adrian

[EricL]

Hello @ecross7 

The small holes in the fallen branch of your Dracaena appear to be caused by borers, which are wood-boring insects that tunnel into plants, often leading to structural damage and potential weakening of the plant. Signs of a borer infestation include small, round or oval holes in the bark, sawdust-like frass (insect droppings) around the base or the holes and weakened or dying branches. To address the issue, inspect the remaining branches and trunk for similar holes or damage. Remove and dispose of any infested parts of the plant to prevent the borers from spreading.

To seal pruning wounds, I suggest using  Steri-Prune Tree and Wound Dressing to reduce the chances of further infestation. Monitoring your plant regularly for new signs of damage will also help keep the borers under control.

I also suggest having a look at this guide from Yates - Borer Control in Your Garden.

Another option of course is to seek help from a pest control professional. 

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric