Sick pittosporum
Rae asked Don if he knew why her pittosporums are dying. She said they are in large pots with one drainage hole in the base of each pot.
Don said that the damage has probably been caused by a watering problem. Either the plants are drying out, or the pots are not draining properly and the plants are getting root rot. To improve the drainage, he suggested turning the pots upside down and using a masonry bit to drill an extra 4 or 5 holes (2.5cm or nearly 1″ in diameter) in the base. He also recommended using a quality potting mix, with the Standards Australia ‘ticks’ displayed on the pack.
Suckering poplars
Greg said that poplar trees (Populus sp.) in neighbouring properties are suckering into his yard and causing damage. He told Don that he was finding it difficult getting the co-operation of the neighbours.
Don said that as a group, poplars are a bit of a worry. They are okay as roadside plantings or planted as windbreaks in some areas, but they should not be planted near houses. They are not such a problem in humid coastal areas due to the introduction of a disease called Poplar Rust about 30 years ago.
Don explained that if your tree does damage next door and if your neighbour has warned you in advance that it will cause trouble but you fail to fix it, you’re liable.
He suggested that Greg take two steps. First, ask a local arborist to assess the problem and write a report. Next, write a polite letter to the neighbours explaining that the poplars are causing damage and asking them to control the roots. If they do nothing about it he can then seek recompense in law. It is also advisable to ask your local Council to assist prior to resorting to legal action.
Note: Some cases have occurred where the person whose property had been damaged could only recover the cost of actual property damage, for example damage to pipes, fence, foundations etc. It is suggested you ask your legal advisor to check this out fully.