Please help: Texas privet (Ligustrum japonicum) dropping leaves and dying

[MtotheC]

Hello,

I'm new here, so hi everyone.
I'm in serious need of help. I've had Texas privet lining my back fence for a little less than 1 year now. There were approx 60 plants put in, with all new soil, proper irrigation, drainage, and fertilizer. Of the 60, one right away started just dropping all of it's leaves. It happened to be one of the extras I had, so I didn't think much of it, but then I had another do the same thing.

The plant was otherwise completely healthy, new leave growth, flowers, etc. but suddenly would start thinning out on the inside. Branches fully bare and it would eventually take out the whole plant. This then seems to happen to the plants right around those ones (not the others). This has now taken out about 10 of my plants and looks to be spreading more to the ones around those.

Soil seems to be getting the right amount of water, most of the other plants are totally healthy.
I've tried treating with Neem oil multiple times.
No visible signs of fungus.

Thanks in advance!

 

[oneeye]

A few different reasons can cause leaf drop. If you see no insects then there's no need for neem.

 

[oneeye]

I remember planting 20 large Nellie R. Stevens hollies on a big job in Ft. Worth. About 6 months later I got a call back that something was wrong with the plants and a few were dropping there leaves. When I got there, most of the plants were almost dead. What I did was remove one of the dead plants completely out of the ground to see what the problem was. My intentions were to get a deep soil test and a leaf tissue sample to send to the labs to find out why this happened. When I pulled the dead plant out of the ground, I found the answer what the problem was. No water! They didn't water the trees deep enough to get to the bottom of the root ball wet. Dry as a bone!!! The holes were knee deep and needed a deep watering a couple times a week to keep the plant hydrated. I had to replace everyone of them at the owners expense because they are responsible for watering. Dig your infected privet up and get a look at the bottom of the hole and see if its dry or wet and you will find the answer.