Here is something you probably don't see every day...Azalea with Witches Broom

[Iamtheuniballer]

So I noticed that this azalea that I was in the process of taking an air layer from (hence the trunk chop) had lace flies so I sprayed the hell out of it. I think I used Sevin but am not sure at this stage however once the leaves started dropping off new growth started popping up. I figured it was good to go. That was in July....

Not sure what exactly to do at this point because most of the articles I read say to cut off the branches or brooms about 5 inches below. The problem here is that even the trunk back budding is coming in this way. I figure I may just leave it for the next few years to see where it goes.

You can see that there are some larger leaves (2nd photo) that are dying which were from before all of this happened and you can see some of the smaller leaves (1st photo) that are developing which are post witches broom so I do have some hope that it may have a chance...

http://imgur.com/a/n0BaY

 

[Jester217300]

You should try and propagate some of the mutations off of the parent plant. You could have a new cultivar and name it after yourself.

 

[Poink88]

I had a boxwood did that (probably due to stress) but all reverted back to normal after a while. I would love for it to stay tiny though.

 

[johng]

I don't think this is a witches broom. They typically occur in a single location on a tree. Whatever is going on with your tree is environmental...I would be willing to bet it has everything to do with "I sprayed the hell of it"...and the leaves fell off... I've seen elm trees, along the side of the road, do exactly the same thing...those that didn't eventually die recovered with normal foliage the next growing season.

I am sure the next growth period will be back to normal foliage.

 

[Iamtheuniballer]

Great!

I don't think this is a witches broom. They typically occur in a single location on a tree. Whatever is going on with your tree is environmental...I would be willing to bet it has everything to do with "I sprayed the hell of it"...and the leaves fell off... I've seen elm trees, along the side of the road, do exactly the same thing...those that didn't eventually die recovered with normal foliage the next growing season.

I am sure the next growth period will be back to normal foliage.

Thanks. Good to know. Am I right in leaving it be and not trenching the roots so I can collect it in the late winter? I figure it needs another season of growth to get back to where it should be.

Here is what the same sized bush next to it looks like now after I did a trunk chop last May. I am hoping to be able to collect it next spring.

http://imgur.com/a/sL3u9

 

[PaulH]

Looks like the result of herbicide overspray. Probably Roundup.

 

[Iamtheuniballer]

Looks like the result of herbicide overspray. Probably Roundup.

I think it was one of the Bayer products but I soaked the bush.. Amateur mistakes..

 

[johng]

Thanks. Good to know. Am I right in leaving it be and not trenching the roots so I can collect it in the late winter? I figure it needs another season of growth to get back to where it should be.

Here is what the same sized bush next to it looks like now after I did a trunk chop last May. I am hoping to be able to collect it next spring.

http://imgur.com/a/sL3u9

That would be the safest route if you have the time.