The leaves on a Crepe Myrtle turning black. For control of aphids, spider mites, scale, whiteflies, beetles, leafrollers and other insect pests. However, the Crape Myrtle does boast a higher resistance to pests and diseases than other flowering tree varieties, and when they are affected, the issues are easy to mediate quickly. This fungus will stress your plants and should be treated to keep secondary invaders away. Powdery mildew is one of the most commonly occurring plant problems. It is of Asian origin, like the crape myrtle tree itself. Get it done this month or by the end of August at the latest. This tree fungus is commonly mistaken for insect damage because of the BB-sized holes it leaves. No Blooms. It won’t hurt a thing to leave them on, but feel free to cut them off. Looking up online, I get two answers: Some say, yes, cut; others say, no, leave them alone. They often think the white dots are a fungus, but it is in fact a bug. After crepe myrtles' flowers fade, green seed pods will appear. Dan Gill is a retired consumer horticulture specialist with the LSU AgCenter. Answer: Scale on crape myrtles has become a common problem the last few years. Some people may not like the way the clusters of green balls looks. Roth earned a Bachelor of Arts in French literature from Brandeis University and Master of Library Science from Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science. Many people who call us describe their trees as covered in white dots, or white cotton like bumps. The sugars in honeydew may support the growth of a fungus called “sooty mold.” This overgrowth produces large black patches on the bark of the crape myrtle. Shorten excessively long outer branches. My crape myrtle tree seems to have some fungus. Although any plant can get powdery mildew, some are very susceptiblesuch as crab apples, cucumbers and all types of squash, lilacs, phlox, and roses. Spray your crepe myrtle with fungicides as soon as you see mildew on the leaves. But if you live in a colder climate, there are many hybrid crepe mytles that can survive in zone 6, and some can survive in zone 5 if they're planted in a protected area. Sooty mold doesn't directly harm crape myrtle trees, but it can reduce their vigor by blocking out sunlight, and leaves that are coated in mold usually fall prematurely. Mid-summer leaf damage caused by hungry moths, You may wilt in the heat, but your flower beds don't have to if you choose the right plants. Crape myrtles have a very thin bark system, which allows for an exterior bark treatment that is unique to crape myrtles. Aphids are common predators and leave behind a black residue. Infected parts of the plant are usually distorted and stunted. The best time to prune crape myrtles is in the winter, when they are dormant, or in the spring, before they have set new blooms. Application intervals vary; if the aphids reappear, treat the tree again to prevent another round of black mold. Otherwise, prune sparingly to maintain the tree's natural shape. This Gardenerdy article discusses more about the popular … Often times, the first sign of CMBS is the black sooty mold on the tree bark. You can also have a situation where the tree now has fungus because it is covered in sticky residue making it a perfect host. In one year, there could be at least two generations of CMBS. Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale (let’s call it CMBS) is a small insect that appears as a white or gray felt-like encrustation. To determine the amount of fertilizer for an established tree, measure the ground under the widest part of the canopy, or top of the tree, then provide 1/2 pound of fertilizer for every 100 square feet. Crape myrtles are commonly attacked by crape myrtle aphids. The rain may have leached out available nutrients temporarily, but the fertilizer still likely has the ability to release more. CMBS might be able to overwinter in the adult female and egg life stages, and crawlers and later stage nymphs have been observed overwintering under the loose bark and in cracks and crevices of crapemyrtles in our area. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and was a college reference librarian for eight years. If it says to apply it every three weeks, go ahead and fertilize. The disease is most serious in shady, damp locations, especially where plants are crowded … Crepe myrtle needs to be watered regularly for the first two months. Improving air circulation within your crepe myrtle and applying chemical controls can eliminate mildew problems and restore the plant's beauty. Erica Roth has been a writer since 2007. A&M has identified this pest as Eriococcus lagerstroemiae, and suspects that it was brought into the U.S. on a crape myrtle plant. But, if it says the fertilizer will last longer (and it almost certainly will), then you will have to wait the recommended time. Powdery mildew thrives in hot, humid environments and will not live as well when the air flows freely through the branches. Fortunately, Cercospora leaf spot does not greatly affect the overall health of the trees, and there is no real need to spray fungicides. Aphids and azalea bark scale feed on the sugars produced by Crepe Myrtles. Published January 28, 2010 By CHRIS BREWER. Older leaves are less likely to be affected, but can become infected under conditions favorable for the disease. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Mississippi State University Extension: Powdery Mildew on Crape Myrtle, North Caroline State University Cooperative Extension: Crapemyrtle aphid, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension: Crape Myrtle Culture, University of Calfiornia Sonoma County Master Gardeners: Lagerstroemia Spp. It is used frequently in southern gardens because the hot summer climate allows it to thrive. Crape myrtles need plenty of sun and air circulation to help fight this disease. Another action you can take to prevent the fungus is to remove old mulch regularly and replace it. 2), infected shoots may dry up and shrivel, severely affected buds will drop off (Fig. Sometimes it is recommended to ensure another flush of late-summer blooms. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Home remedies that work include baking soda sprays (1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of insecticidal or dish soap- do not use detergent -in a gallon of water. It is very likely too soon to add more fertilizer, but you can check the label of the product you used. Scrub the pests away – It may sound odd, but scrubbing the tree will remove many of the pests, thus making other treatment more effective. For heavily infested trees, clean the trunks and reachable limbs with a … However, crepe myrtle benefits from an occasional watering during hot, dry weather, especially while the tree is blooming. The North Carolina State University Cooperate Extension reports that chemicals effective against aphids include insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, pyrethroids and organophosphate. Spray your crepe myrtle with fungicides as soon as … Can I fertilize my lawn again this weekend or should I wait? It is a fungal disease that affects plant leaves and stems, coating them in what looks like a white or gray powder-like substance. Similar to other treatments, home remedies for skin fungus take time, although the prognosis is often good in cases. Speaking of fertilizing lawns, if you have not fertilized your lawn since spring, you may fertilize again now. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! However, in absence of proper care, these trees can be afflicted with certain diseases such as mildew. Crape myrtle aphids are tiny, only about a 16th of an inch long. If … I fertilized my lawn about three weeks ago with Turf Builder and it looked great. Pruning them off alleviates the drooping of the branches. These Southern favorites provide shade, and feature attractive, peeling bark and are easy to care for. After the flower clusters of crape myrtles fade and the flowers drop off, you will see clusters of green balls. Most gardeners consider deadheading crape myrtle trees more trouble than it is worth, and many trees are too tall to make this practical. Can you tell me what it is, and what can I do to help my tree? Blame the excessive rains, as rainy weather encourages outbreaks of this disease. However, crepe myrtle benefits from an occasional watering during hot, dry weather, especially while the tree is blooming. Healthy crepe myrtle is relatively disease-resistant. The insects’ digestive systems do not process all of the mat­er­ial they eat. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. The crepe myrtle, sometimes spelled crape myrtle or crapemyrtle, is a large, flowering tree. So,  there are good reasons not to overdo it when we fertilize. The spores and mycelia of powdery mildew are sensitive to extremes of heat and sunlight. They flourish in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7a through 9a. You have permission to edit this article. Symptoms: Brown or reddish-brown leaf spots, holes in leaves where the leaf spots used to be, yellow leaves dropping in mid-summer. No matter where you live in the South, crepe myrtles should have bloomed by now. This article will reveal to you top 21 natural home remedies for skin fungus on hands, thighs and legs which could be done at home … Wait a day or two to water if the soil feels cool and moist. Pathogen Type: Fungus Period of Primary Occurrence: spring • Primarily during spring (disease development favored by succulent new growth during warm days, cool nights with extended period of dry weather) • May also occur throughout the growing season Description / Symptoms • Powdery mildew is one of the most common problems of crape myrtle With its beautiful blossoms and showy bark, the crepe myrtle is one of the most beautiful landscape trees. Fungicide for the prevention and control of various fungal diseases including powdery mildew, black spot, downy mildew, anthracnose, rust, leaf spot, botrytis, needle rust, scab and flower, twig and tip blight, and alternaria. And that's what crepe murderers have helped to do this year. There are lots of home remedies but researchers have found that simply spraying with plain water weekly can be effective. <— Neem Oil Concentrate. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. As with most insects, there are several life stages and the appearance of CMBS changes with the stages. Pruning depends on the desired size and shape of the tree. Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia Indica) is a popular, easy to grow tree in the right setting. Different types of lawn fertilizer are formulated to last different lengths of time. Alternate using formulas with different active ingredients to prevent the crepe myrtle from developing a resistance to any one kind of fungicide. Depending on the severity of the disease, you may need to apply fungicides every week or two. Do be sure to rake up and dispose of fallen leaves as they can serve as a source of future infections. Indeed, by the time you see the spots it's really too late to do anything about it. The crepe myrtle, sometimes spelled crape myrtle or crapemyrtle, is a large, flowering tree. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which can encourage mildew growth. Before you begin using fungicide as a crepe myrtle blight treatment, make sure your tree’s problem is crepe myrtle tip blight. The appearance of sooty mold can sometimes be an indication that you have an over population of aphids or Scale on your plant. Black Sooty Mold on an Azalea If your tree is weakened by fungus to begin with (as some varieties of Crepe Myrtles are more susceptible to fungus than others after a wet Spring or rain spell), they can suffer and become vulnerable to pest damage. Home remedies for powdery mildew - As warm, dry weather settles in this month, be alert for the development of powdery mildew on crops. They can’t germinate or grow if the leaves are wet. Even if you don’t directly damage the grass, overfertilization will stimulate fast, lush growth susceptible to fungal outbreaks that can damage or kill parts of your lawn. Powdery mildew thrives in hot, humid environments and will not live as well when the air flows freely through the branches. Two types of mildew can damage a crepe myrtle and compromise its beauty: powdery mildew, a white fungus that covers the dark green leaves of the plant, and black mold that is the by-product of aphids. The leaves at the e…. I like to make the first application of insecticide about May 1 to prevent sooty mold. This often leads to a black fungus, called sooty mold, forming on leaves and branches in mid- … Remove small twig-like branches that are located inside and below the tree's canopy. Treat black mold by getting rid of the pests creating the mold. White Fungus on Crape Myrtles. The Crepe myrtle is a stunning small tree that grows in warm climates. This is the opposite of what most gardeners think, me included. I would like to know if I need to cut the faded flowers or green seed pods off of my crape myrtle once the flowers have dried up. This can be a difficult pest to control and it may take m… Powdery mildew thrives in hot, humid environments and will not live as well when the air flows freely through the branches. Aphids are not a welcome insect by any means, but there are going to be a few tolerable amounts on any crepe myrtle. There was a problem saving your notification. Highly susceptible varieties of crape myrtle may lose virtually all of their leaves when extended rainy periods occur (and even these trees will recover without treatment), but most of the crape myrtles we plant these days have decent resistance. For crape myrtles sending out abundant new growth, the weight of the seedpod clusters can make the branches bend down. Crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia Indica) is a popular, easy to grow tree in the right setting. -- Allison DeBosier. The Mississippi State University Extension recommends pruning back your crepe myrtle during its winter's dormancy for best results. 3), and badly infected leave… The surface of an infected plant has a powder-like appearance (Fig. The crape myrtle aphid attacks only crape myrtles. Thank you. So in this situation you cannot make the wrong decision. Spray your crepe myrtle with fungicides as soon as you see mildew on the leaves. Excellent choices for sunny areas include angelonia, …. -- Christopher Landry. The crepe myrtle tip blight fungus spores collect on that mulch so removing it can prevent an outbreak from recurring. Powdery mildew is a common summer problem on many types of vegetables and cut flowers. After all the rain, the grass has turned a lighter green. All Rights Reserved. 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The infection causes dark-olive to black-colored spots on the surfaces of leaves, which then turn red, orange yellow! Blossoms and showy bark, and fruits of plants commonly occurring plant problems canopy. If you like, but there are going to be, yellow leaves dropping in mid-summer flowers fade, seed! Leaves, flowers, and many trees are too tall to make practical! Base or use drip hoses, continue to plant heat-tolerant bedding plants its,.