I live on the sunshine coast, BC, and have a proximity 25 foot arbutus on the property. The bark all seems to be in fine health but most of the leaves are brown and dead. There are a few that still have some green left on them but non are all green. Is there something that could be causing this? Something perhaps that can be done for the tree? I have added photo's to let you see what I'm talking about. thanks.
That does not look like a tree that will survive. Several pathogens can kill Arbutus menziesii. http://genetics.forestry.ubc.ca/cfcg/proj_cataloguing/s_arbumen.html There is not much that can be done once the trees are infected. Avoid root disturbance around the trees to help prevent infection.
Can you collect the dead leaves... as they will carry the virus too, perhaps burning them is a solution, not composting, an aid to reduce the spread of this virus to any nearby Arbutus?
