Question
Our 10 foot Pittosporum tree did not bloom this year, looks very stressed, has yellow leaves and some dead branches. On close inspection there are small black dots circling the lower trunk. The tree is in SC Zone 7, planted on the south in part shade and has been in the same spot for over 5 years.. I would hate to loose this tree but it is looking pitiful!!

Answer
Dear Virginia, When a pittosporum looks really bad, I always refer to it as a pitifulsporum, but let me help you get your bush back into good shape.  What you are describing is scale, a non-moving insect that sucks all the juices out of your plants, eventually killing them.  It often goes undetected because it doesn't move at all in the adult stage.  In addition, the hard protective shell like covering protects them from most insecticides.  The trick in killing them is to spray with a lightweight horticultural oil (SunSpray is awesome for this if you can find it - it attaches to your hose and is very effective.) or you can spray with biorganic oils.  The oil will smother the insects.  You will need to spray several times about a week apart to control the scale, but this method will work.  Be sure to spray the plant thoroughly, covering tops and bottoms of leaves and all over the trunk.  The tree should be dripping wet when you are finished.  You will notice significant improvement after you have sprayed about three times.  You will know that the scale is dead when a moderate stream of water will dislodge them from the plant.  After you have gotten the scale under control, you should probably give the pittosporum a nice dose of fertilizer to help replace the nutrients that the scale has robbed from it.  I hope this information helps and you restore your pittosporum to the beautiful plant that it can be.  Please write back if you have more questions.  Good luck, Melissa