Is this damage from borers?

[ash15cooper]

 

Hi All,

I was hoping to get some advice as I cannot tell if these holes are from borers or the neighbour has drilled and poisoned tree. 
 All I know is they look very sick and I discovered these holes when look at base of the trees. 

 

 

[Jason]

Hi @ash15cooper,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Sorry to see your trees are struggling.

Let me tag a couple of helpful members to see if they can kick off the discussion and share their thoughts with you: @robchin and @Noelle.

Jason

[Noelle]

Hi @ash15cooper 

In my humble opinion, the holes you have photographed look far too large to be caused by borers! Borer holes are generally much smaller (1-2mm in diameter) and there would be a lot more of them to be causing the type of damage evident in your photos.

While it may be an insect pest causing these holes, in my suspicious mind, it looks far more likely someone has drilled a few holes and used a weedkiller to kill the trees.

[JacobZ]

Hi @ash15cooper,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community.

I don't wish to speculate, but I agree with @Noelle that these holes look too large to be from borers or other insects, but you certainly can't rule them out.

You might want to monitor the holes in the evenings or at night to see if anything is climbing in and out of them.

Jacob

[mich1972]

Good morning @ash15cooper I agree with @Noelle borer holes are tiny and random throughout the tree, this looks like it’s been drilled and filled with poison to purposely kill them. As @JacobZ advised watch them carefully to see if anything happens.

[ash15cooper]

Hi All, 

many thanks for your help! Can the shrubs be saved ? If so, what do you recommend in terms of actions ? 
thanks for your help, appreciate it.  

[JacobZ]

Hi @ash15cooper,

It's hard to say as we don't really know what has happened.

You could give them some Seasol to encourage better overall health, but outside of this, there's not much we can do.

Unfortunately, the best thing we can do at this point is monitor them and make sure they get enough water.

Jacob