Q: We have a lilypilly tree in our garden and it has been losing berries for the last two months all over our lawn. The lawn looks such a mess plus if they’re not all cleared, a lot of weeds spring up. Is there any answer other than replacing it? It has never dropped berries for so long before. Also should this tree be heavily pruned? Thank you, Anne. Anne Pledger - Gold Coast.
A: Many trees this year have been dropping more leaves (and berries and fruit) prematurely than compared to what has happened in the past. This is purely and simply a survival mechanism by plants, where they drop appendages or attachments, which require water for maintenance. It is due to the very dry conditions that we have been experiencing and plants and trees are reacting…to try and survive…by dropping what they can so that they may get through this period of stress.
I suspect that this is what is happening with your lilypilly. Having said that, being on the Gold Coast, you’ve had more rain than us in Brisbane. Did you have a prolonged dry spell before your lilypilly started behaving strangely?
The weeds springing up have nothing to do with the fruit drop. This is probably due to the ground below the lilypilly being bare, as a result of excessive shade caste by your tree.
There is no need to replace your tree. Once weather patterns get back to normal, the tree will start ‘behaving itself’ once again. Lillypillies can be pruned AND heavily pruned if you wish. It just depends on what you wish to create…a shade tree, a low growing tree, a screen, or what?
