Oleander leaf scorch5/26/2023 ![]() ![]() If your plants have significantly different symptoms from other oleanders in your area, you may have them tested. While it may be premature to assume that oleander leaf scorch is the cause, this hypothesis may be tested by sending a sample for analysis. The insects carrying the disease cannot easily cross the desert. The expanse of arid lands between us and the infested areas also provides some protection. The fact that New Mexico seems to be skipped over in the distribution of this disease is probably due to our lower population and reduced chance for importing the disease on infected plant material. For these reasons, the best hypothesis is winter water deficit. She says that the glassy winged sharpshooter has not yet been found in New Mexico. Carol Sutherland, NMSU Extension Entomologist, reports that one of its insect vectors, the smoke tree sharpshooter, has been reported in the state but not in Las Cruces. She has recently tested some oleander samples from Las Cruces and says that oleander leaf scorch was not present. Natalie Goldberg, NMSU Extension Plant Pathologist reports that oleander leaf scorch has not been reported in New Mexico. Winter irrigation and mulch to conserve water in every season will help with this issue.ĭr. As plants become larger, their water requirements increase. The previous winter, plants were much smaller and required less water. The winter of 2004-2005 was wetter than normal. Winter desiccation of oleander leaves is not uncommon in Las Cruces. The dry winter is the most likely cause of the leaf dieback. I think your first suspicion was correct. We would greatly appreciate your comment. The last time I looked, New Mexico lies between those last two named.Īccordingly, should we assume that the "oleander leaf scorch" has invaded our area? It appears from what we are reading that there is nothing we can do about it. ![]() Someone apparently has not checked a map. This bacterium is "vectored" by insects, primarily the "Glassy Winged Sharpshooter." We are informed that the problem first appeared in southern California but has since spread into Arizona and Texas. There appears to be a problem with "oleander leaf scorch" caused by the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. However, we are now reading information on the Internet from the University of California. We assumed that we should have provided more water to these plants during the winter where, as you know, there has been essentially no rainfall. Late this spring we observed a great deal of leaf damage on at least half the plants. Over the years, it has filled in completely and is quite tall. It has an oleander hedge planted along the perimeters of the property adjacent to the rock walls as a privacy screen. Our home was built in 1993 on a double lot in Las Cruces. Issue: Do we have new, exotic plant disease? ![]()
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