This is our 40+ year old cottoneaster hedge.
All the dark areas are infested with oyster shell scale. It's throughout the city. We've been fighting it for three years but we had to do the only fix that would work.
And now it's all gone! Because we've had so much rain the eggs haven't hatched yet so we did this just in time. A couple of our neighbours cut theirs down a couple of weeks ago and they have new growth already. By this time next year it will probably be a couple of feet high. It will be easier to shovel the snow this coming winter!!
Seems a bit drastic but it will grow back. Would be a real pity to lose the hedge.
ReplyDeleteAfter much research drastic measures were the only hope of getting rid of it. It can come back but hopefully we will get lucky.
DeleteWhat a shame to have to take such drastic action. I hope it starts growing back quickly. I have not heard of that bug here and am happy about that!!
ReplyDeleteIt is very comman in cottoneaster bushes, which are very similar to privits. All over the city you see hedges cut down or hedges with big dead sections waiting to be cut down! They grow fast so it wont take too long before it looks half decent again.
DeleteI got so tired of cutting the cottoneaster hedge at my old home, I actually cut it all down. Once I had it cut down, I hired a guy with a small bobcat to dig it out and I put a flower bed where it had been. It was right next to the driveway so was a real nuisance in the winter when shovelling.
ReplyDeleteThe house I'm in now, has no hedge....I specifically looked for one without. I hope your hedge comes back healthy.
Ours is right next to the driveway as well. My vote was to dig it all out but DH thinks it's a good wind break for the snow so I was over ruled!!
DeleteGreat save. We don't have a cotoneaster hedge, but I have noticed this problem a lot on my walks.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It's particularly bad this year. It's really unusual to see a hedge that isn't affected!
DeleteWell now, I'm going to have to google cotoneaster and oyster shell scale! I've not heard of either. Hope yours comes back nice and healthy.
ReplyDeleteVery common here, especially in older areas with well established hedges.
DeleteI've never heard of that bug, but it's good that it's a fast growing hedge that should recover quickly from the drastic measure.
ReplyDeleteShould start looking half decent next year!
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