Most of the bay trees in my neighborhood have been wiped out by Laurel Wilt disease over the last few years.

Here’s one in the middle of succumbing:

And here’s one that’s bit the dust:

I’ve also seen multiple avocado trees knocked out by this blight. It isn’t cool.

Growing avocados used to be easy provided it didn’t get too cold. No longer.

In the last few years we’ve picked up major problems with citrus (greening), avocados (laurel wilt) and ended up with a nasty and voracious fruit-tree eating beetle (Sri Lankan Weevil) as well.

I would love to cast blame somewhere, but the only thing I can really blame is international trade rather than local production.

And honestly, I don’t want to go without Colombian coffee, so I can’t cast blame as I’d like…

Anyhow, avocados are no longer a good choice for your yard. They tend to hit hit by beetles as they near maturity and really get into bearing age, say around 6 years or so. Younger trees are generally less affected.

No matter how hard we work at our gardening, there’s always something new right around the corner that wants to destroy what we build. Just another proof that this world isn’t paradise.

My two cents on fighting back:

Plant extra trees in case something happens to one or two of them. Plant a wide variety of crops. Don’t do monocultures. Start trees from seed and plant them everywhere. Keep an eye on everything. And don’t count on any one thing as a sure thing.

Going for a permaculture approach makes a lot of sense. If you’re looking for a place to start, I highly recommend Toby Hemenway’s book Gaia’s Garden. Buy a copy and prepare to be inspired.

Good luck keeping things alive. Savor that guacamole when you can get it.

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