Avocado Tree Looking pretty Bad

[naturelover]

Well, been neglecting the trees a bit .... Any ideas what is wrong with this tree?  To me, it looks that there is disease and insects .

And     Happy Thanksgiving !

[Jack, Nipomo]

Looks like it could be salt burn from dissolved solids in the irrigation water.  Leaves transpire the water and the salts (not sodium chloride) stay in the leaf damaging the tissue.  This occurs this time of the year particularly in CA.  New leaves will come out OK.  A good rainfall will wash the salts down.  Are you in CA?  A good irrigation flush every third irrigation or so should help.

[naturelover]

Thanks. No I'm in Florida- I haven't used any irrigation because we have had enough rain lately-

[Patrick]

It could be sunburn combined with mites under those burnt spots, check for little black shiny specks on the leaves opposite side of the burns.  The tree will most likely be fine, they don't look great all the time for sure!

[socal10b]

I agree with with patrick, it looks like sunburn to me too. My reed looks worst than urs during the hot summer. White wash the exposed woods with latex paint and mix 50:50 with water, your tree will be fine.

[bsbullie]

Not sold on it being  sunburn.   I agree with possible  mite damage.

[zands]

So whats the cure for mites?

[Mark in Texas]

So whats the cure for mites?

Forbid 4F is my favorite.

[Mark in Texas]

naturelover, just a recommendation.  There's much more than meets the eye.  In order to make a decent educated guess, we need to know a little about your culture, what you have or haven't been doing.  There could be a dozen things causing the leaf scorch - moisture stress caused by under or overwatering (root rot),  salts burn, mites, fungi pressures. 

I think you're an organic purist so my guess is insect pressures, perhaps mites.

Also, have you done a recent soil analysis for NPK and micro values?  I just did on my veggie soil and found practically no N value in that soil.  All other elements were spot on.  I corrected with an application of UAN and will continue doing so.  Just saying.......

Good luck,
Mark

[naturelover]

Thanks for everyone's input 

Well- checked the leaves and it does look like mites .  So.... to treat or let nature take its course? 

As far as what I've been doing with this tree?
I've pretty much ignored the thing except for some fertilizer 2 months ago . And we have had some rain lately so I haven't been watering at all.   If ignoring my trees = organic purist, then that's me. lol       

I've been so busy at work that I have been ignoring the orchard...

[Mark in Texas]

What foods did it get - organic or synthetic and how much?  I'd suspect salt damage which has already been mentioned. 

Only other explanation is it's at a point this time of the year when it's time to drop leaves.  If so and the new leaves are scorched too........

[TRI433]

It looks like Avocado Lace Bug damage to me.

[Mark in Texas]

It looks like Avocado Lace Bug damage to me.

Wouldn't that damage be more confined?  http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r8301411.html

[jc]

Looks like I have some Avocado Lace Bugs on my Day. Seems fine with no treatment. The Lula, Wurtz, and Oro Negro look good.

http://cisr.ucr.edu/avocado_lace_bug.html