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Curling leaf on Illawarra flame tree
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Posted by Andrew_R NSW Aust (My Page) on Tue, Mar 16, 04 at 19:11
| I have an illawara flame in my front yard that is about 8 meteres tall, almost all the leaves have curled, the only insects I can find (and I have looked very closely) are little black ants that walk up and down the trunk and small spiders that live (only) in a few of the curled up leaves. I think the previous owner may of tried to poison the tree although not sure how to tell. New leaves come out and they look fine and then slowly shrivel, curl up turn black ?
Any ideas ?? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Curling leaf on Illawarra flame tree
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| Sounds to me like the ants may be the problem. We had a similar problem with sooty mould on a palm tree.We actually had to wash it with soapy water and then use a good insecticide to get rid of the ants running up and down the trunk and then making a mess of the fronds.Another good tip was to apply vaseline around base of the trunk so they couldn't climb up and do further damage. It worked! Hope this helps, please let me know how you got on. Cheers. Brenda. |
RE: Curling leaf on Illawarra flame tree
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| Brenda, what a great idea 'vaseline' It will definately stop the ants, I will get onto it tonight, I hope it works and will if anything rule out the only insect I can see on the tree, I must say it did seem strange that ants would want to live in a tree ? Thnaks |
RE: Curling leaf on Illawarra flame tree
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| I have put the vaseline on the tree and lots of it, would you believe that the ants actualy walk over it !! THey are amazing so I have put some ant rid on the tree as well as that should sort it out.. I may try some packing tape with the sticky side out... Thanks |
RE: Curling leaf on Illawarra flame tree
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| Andrew, how are you going with those ants? They sound like they are pretty persistent to be able to walk over vaseline! Brenda. |
RE: Curling leaf on Illawarra flame tree
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| Brenda, thanks agin for your interest, I have placed some material based sticky tape with the sticky side out around the tree and that appears to have halted them (with a little antrid) so I am now watering and hoping to see some recovery... I am fearful that the tree was poisined and is just sick, so I may get a tree doctor to come and have a look. Thanks Thanks again |
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