Salal problems

12 years ago

We live on the Eastside, and have a couple of huge thickets of salal in our yard which are looking pretty sad.

They're probably 8 feet tall and very thick, but they're scraggly and suffering from leaf spot. I suppose it's because they're shaded by our tall evergreens, which means not only shade but also very dry soil.

The healthy leaves look fine and they're constantly send out vigorous runner, so I know they're basically surviving.

The thickets are really too large to water and fertilize, but I would like to get them more robust and try to control the leaf spot.

Any expert opinions on what to do? We don't want to get rid of it, as it's a great habitat for the birds.

Thanks!

Nancy

Featured Answer

reg_pnw7

12 years ago

Yes, salal normally grows in a wide variety of environments, from deep shade (always from conifers in the wild) to full sun, and summer-dry soil to soil that never is all that dry. In sun or in dry soil it tends to be shorter than otherwise. Sometimes a stand will have a lot of leaf spot, while other stands are clean.

I don't think your salal being under conifers (I presume you mean conifers when you say evergreens) has much if anything to do with the leaf spotting. Spotting may be worse this year than others due to the cold wet springs two years in a row,, and last year's total lack of a dry summer, which most fungi love. But maybe yours is spotted every year regardless. My salal, what little I have here, is under a mixed bag of conifers, madrones and maples, never ever gets watered, and some has spots and some doesn't. I have to look to find clean stuff for flower arrangements but I always can find something clean.

8ft tall is pretty tall. You might try, as suggested above, to cut some of it down shorter, and see if the new growth comes out clean. It might need some rejuvenation. If that works and you cut some back every year then you'll reduce the amount of leaf spotting without having to cut it all back at once. Don't try irrigating or fertilizing it, that's totally unnecessary for salal, and the extra nitrogen and water on leaves might make the spotting worse.

If it's 8ft tall it's a pretty old, well-established stand. My salal might be about 40 years old and it's only 2-3 feet tall. It is a fantastic habitat for attracting birds, isn't it? the towhees and sparrows love it.

Comments (7)

jean001a
12 years ago
That's the normal succession in a cool and moist NW year.
nancyinseattle
Original Author
12 years ago
Yes, unfortunately all of our years are cool and moist, and the problem seems to get worse every year. I don't want to cut it all down, so I'm hoping for some advice on what to do about it.
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Embothrium
12 years ago
For more on this topic

Here is a link that might be useful: Salal Gaultheria shallon -- Leaf Spots
oliveoyl3
12 years ago
You could try cutting it back some without cutting it all down. Since the new growth have less spots I began selectively cutting back branches to a main branch closer to the ground. Since we have several shrubs near the front door & driveway I have been pleased with the effort to control the spots by just removing the branches with it. I have other plants filling in & around them, so it's not empty for long. Plus the new growth is so nice for adding to garden bouquets.

In some areas I've cut it nearly to the ground, so I could have mostly flowering perennials there instead, but it always comes back within a few years if I don't keep it trimmed back.

Loppers are needed for the thickest parts, but regular pruners usually are enough tool for the job.
Wayne Reibold
12 years ago
I find this posting really odd. I have a one acre lot here in Puyallup, previous owner did no landscaping, place was covered in salal up to 6' tall, blackberry, weeds, etc. among a lot of Fir and Hemlock trees (and some rhodies). All of the salal even in areas with zero irrigation is always SO healthy looking, shiny healthy green leaves. It was so aggressive I've had to remove a lot of it, I like it in small patches but huge areas of 6' of it is a bit much. I've never done anything to assist it (and I'm sure previous owner didn't either) so I'm puzzled by having problems with it. On my acre it grows in everything from heavy shade to full sun and all of it extremely healthy.
Embothrium
12 years ago
And on other sites there is leaf spot. Nothing odd about leaf spot or other diseases being present on part of a plant population at all.