Weeping lilly pilly is shedding leaves

[Kate_C_]

Hi,

One of my 10 large Weeping Lilly Pilly (Waterhousea Floribunda) trees has recently started to shed a lot of its leaves - they turn red and drop off and it’s looking quite sparse and sad. 

All of them have a few leaves that turn red and fall off, but this particular tree has lost about half of its leaves. 

It is about 3 years old and never had any problems like this. They only change we have made recently is that we have added some drainage to our property that might have meant the area it’s planted in gets little bit less water, but in saying that all the other trees next to it are fine. 

Does anyone have any experience with this happening or any ideas as to how I can help this situation? 

 

 

 

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Kate_C_ . It's brilliant to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about your Weeping Lilly Pilly.

It sounds like you are familiar with the flourishes of new growth that turn red before dropping off the plant. This trait is perfectly normal. However, it sounds like this plant is the outlier in your bunch. 

Waterhouseas can suffer from psyllid damage and the resulting black sooty mould. Are there any signs of these? 

Lilly pillies are rainforest trees, and the reduced water due to your new drainage could be adversely affecting the plant. I'd suggest starting to water the plant, adding a native plant fertiliser and applying a soil wetter. 

Let me also mention one of our horticultural experts, @Noelle, to see if she has any thoughts.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

[Noelle]

Hi @Kate_C_ 

Every tree is individual and may exhibit different characteristics. I agree with Mitchell re looking at the soil moisture level after the drainage improvements and making sure the roots are getting what they need.  Use of a wetting agent to assist moisture to penetrate deeply may be the solution.