Question
QUESTION: quick browning of lantern shaped pods, sporatitic yellowing of leaves and defoliation of tree. planted in island of highly traveled road, over irrigated, poor soil with rock bed for drainage and other plant material planted around them. one had symptoms and now they are all getting it down the line. like dominos. had been pruned prior to symptoms

ANSWER: Richard:
All of these soil conditons are a good recipe for STRESS.  Defoliation is a way that stressed plants respond to these conditions. Sometimes more forethought needs to go into planning rather than planting.

Steve

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QUESTION: i feel like the way one tree showed these symptoms and then the one beside it and then the next should be a transferable disease or one that can be spread by pruning . i don't think you can spread "stress" from one tree to another. im thinking virus or blight. something spreadable by water leaching from root to root or by unsanitary pruning tools. the first symptom are the lattern shaped seed pods turn from beige to brown as if its fall. then the leaves sporadically turn yellow and then brown quickly, as in a pythium root decline.  what do you think. Richard

Answer
Richard:
Pythium is often associated with saturated soils/lots of water in the soil profile.  You usually get a wilt as a result of infection. True, some disease organisms can be spread by pruning, particulary bacteria.  Suggest taking in a sample to your local county Extension office- each county should have one.  Get a horticulture person to have a look to offer suggestions.

Steve