sick ligustrum

Question

I have a sick ligustrum. Can you help? I have never seen this before. The plant is covered in brown pod like things at the point where all new growth should come out. After a while new leaves come out of the pod but are very small and then die. The plant was cut back at the same time the rest of the hedge was cut in spring, but it has never come back like the others. It looks like sticks with brown pods all over it.

Answer 1

It’s difficult to say exactly what is effecting the shrubs, but they can be susceptible to fungus. Rake and remove any leaves that have dropped off of the plants.
Treat the shrubs with Neem Oil as this both works as a fungicide and pesticide.
Have you had heavy rain? If the plants are heavily mulched you can pull back the mulch to help dry out the soil.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/ligustrum/growing-ligustrum-shrubs.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/neem-oil-uses.htm