Ask Dr Nerenberg | Health and Fitness

i think my fruit trees are sick – each leaf on the tree is half dried although there are plenty of rain?

My 25 year old mango tree used to bear many large mangos, and 20 year old my lychee tree used to be filled with lychee fruits – but now for the past 3 years, both trees are not as productive as before, and both trees now have the same symptoms of possible illness or disease – both trees are filled with leaves that are half green and half brown. The dry and brown part of the leaf is towards the end of the leaf, while the other half of the leaf near the branch is green. Does anyone know what is causing this problem? Are my trees sick, lacking nutrition, infected by insects, or just due to old age? Please help! Thank ypu.

Probably a combination of over watering and fungus (anthracnose ) . Mites and scale insects can attack mango trees, but they rarely limit growth or production unless populations build to high levels. Get a fungicide- sorry you won’t be eating the yummy fruits this year. Then check how wet their ‘feet’ are- the soils should be well drained and have a base pH- lime will decrease the pH. Then this fall, prune back the trees so the branches create a basket or dish shape… Try to only cut the damaged branches and mangoes don’t really need pruning to increase their yield.

How To Cut A Mango

MyFood – Nutrition Facts $0 4+~~Pomegranate Software~~Pomegranate Software~~http://itunes.apple.com/app/myfood-nutrition-facts/id396836856?uo=5~~Pomegranate Software~~2.6.1~~6871900~~5166072~~http://www.pomapps.com/myfood~~http://www.pomapps.com/support