Roger's pick- Oleander Leaf Scorch

Oleander plants have been a real durable plant over the years; they have been drought tolerant and, until recently, fairly bullet-proof in our gardens.

However, the oleanders now have some major problems to contend with that are taking down tens of thousands of these plants throughout Southern California.

This problem is a fairly new disease called Xylella fastidiosa, and is the same species, although a different strain, that causes Pierce’s disease that occurs in grapevines and almonds.

As with other diseases caused by X. fastidiosa, the bacterium is carried by insects, primarily glassy wing...