Waxleaf Ligustrum (Japanese Privet) Turning Yellow

[tonyastro]

I have a hedge of 43 waxleaf plants. Around 6 of those plants all next to each other haven't been doing too well within the past 2 months. Leaves started falling out and turning yellow with brown spots. Branches with no leaves easily break off. Could this be disease or just the 108° heat waves we've been having? What can I do to fix this?


The area of concern

A sample of a "sick" plant. No brown spots yet.

A sample of a healthy plant

 

[Chuck]

From the looks of the surrounding soil it appears that they need a long deep soaking

 

[tonyastro]

Thanks Chuck. I'll deep water them tonight. Surrounding bushes though have the same soil and are fine.

 

[LIcenter]

Don't know where you live, but here on Long Island there is a blight that is attacking boxwoods, and privets. Same symptoms you are describing.

 

[tonyastro]

Sorry, I'm in SoCal. Monrovia, CA.

 

[tonyastro]

I just realized the only affected bushes are the ones in front of (and actually touching) a white wall as can be seen in the first picture. This might explain the sudden browning of the leaves within the past 7 days. However that doesn't explain the foliage thinning within the past 4 months. Here's a comparison of the same plant today and 7 days ago: