This spring has been miserable in SW Georgia . ..the tulips and other spring blooming bulbs didn't display the beautiful array of colors as usual. A late frost got the buds of many spring bloming shrubs and trees. It was a very disappointing spring but I think it's finally catching up!!! We've had plenty of rain so I'm anticipating a beautiful summer and lots of new growth on everything!!
Seldom do pests or disease bother these shrubs, but sometimes aphids will attack (Neoceruraphis viburnicola). This insect is easy to control with natural predators such as parasitic wasps or lady bugs. If this doesn't work, a gentle pesticide should take care of the problem.
You don't want these bugs to remain on the shrub. They suck the fluid from the leaves, which leaves the leaf twisted and curled - not very pretty and it also opens the door for disease.
The most prevalent disease is Bacterial Blight but it doesn't happen often. It's most active during wet, humid weather. When it does make an appearance, about the only control is to prune back to healthy areas with aseptic shears. Be sure to destroy the infected parts you prune off. Left unattended, blight could kill the shrub. And since we've had such a wet spring, I'll watch mine very closely for a while and post if I detect any problems.
It has proven to be an easy care shrub in our area and I haven't had to deal with any of the problems mentioned above. I usually feed her in the early spring and late summer. So far, she hasn't failed to make my heart sing each spring! At the present time, I'm considering severely pruning her simply because I want the cuttings to make a hedge of these beauties.
But, I may just leave her to her own devices and see how she does next year and forego my hedge for now.
DecisionsDecisionsDecisions!!!!!
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