Plant Doctor Archive

Problems with Pukas

MY variegated native puka trees (Meryta sinclarii) have developed unsightly brown splotches on their leaves. They look very unwell and haven't come right despite being fed and watered regularly. What am I doing wrong?

IT sounds as if you may be killing your pukas with kindness. Pukas do not like wet feet and overwatering could lead to the symptoms you describe. If your soil is heavy or gluggy - and we have had a very wet spring this year - dig in compost and peat to improve aeration.

Remove the damaged leaves and feed with a general garden fertiliser to help kickstart new growth.

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH.