Question
Hi Melissa.  Please help: my 4 year old pomegranate "wonderful" in the last month went from green leaves full of red flowers to yellow curled and then brown leaves.  First just the back section, and then the whole tree.  we also noticed the dark, outer layer of bark down by the soil and rising up the trunk ABT 6 inches is flaking off.  There appears to be three tiny tiny spots abt the size of a pinhead where a white powdery substance is in the cracked bark.  And yet, the branches are still pliable, as if still alive.  Any idea what could be going on?
Thanks so much!!!

Answer
Dear Andrea, Your pomegranate is showing signs of root rot, which is a devastating disease and will likely kill the tree.  Ordinarily pomegranates are not subject to very many different pests and diseases, and one of the few things that it can get is root rot which could be from poorly drained soils.  There are a few things you can try to save this tree.  First check on the drainage of this area, if watered with a sprinkler system, reduce the water, if it is staying extra wet (recent weather may have caused this) try to drain the area with ditches, and you could spray it with a NEEM product or other organic fungicide.  I am suggesting organics in the event that the tree produces edible fruit.  Anyway I would try a soil drench with the fungicide.  If you try all this and the tree is still failing or worse after a few weeks or a month, then I would dig it out.  I'm sorry I couldn't give you better news, but this is one of those rare things that happen to pomegranates.  Good luck and write back if you need further assistance.  Melissa