Plant Diseases

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Fire Blight

This may be Fire Blight. The primary sign of this bacterial infection is black “shepherd’s crook” twigs. The tips of branches actually turn blank and bend like a shepherd's crook. There may also be light brown to blackened leaves. Here's a link for Apple Tree information from the Colorado Extension Agency. At the bottom of the page there are several links discussing apple diseases and pests including Fire Blight. You'll want to look at the images of branches affected by Fire Blight which will help you determine if it is present on your tree and what treatment options are available. If the Fire Blight description doesn't fit your tree's appearance, you can check out the other links for possibilities.
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1201.html

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:19-07:00 March 18th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments
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Leaf Spot On Canna

This is an example of leaf spot. This sort of damage can either be bacterial or fungal. Fungal disease are easier to treat but if it's bacterial there is no cure, just management or replacement with clean stock. Either way, the prudent thing to do is to remove those damaged leaves and throw them away. When you water this plant be sure not to sprinkle the leaves as this promotes both fungal and bacterial leaf diseases. This is always worse in the cool air at night so allow the leaves to dry before nightfall, except of course for rainy weather. Fertilize this plant after you've watered it well. Your garden center can recommend a fungicide to protect the newer growth as it develops...if your leaf spot is fungal this will help prevent the spread of the problem.

By | 2016-03-18T00:03:04-07:00 March 18th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments
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Powdery Mildew On Zucchini

The white spots on your pumpkin are probably powdery mildew. This fungus is common to squashes especially if the foliage is wet at night. Drier weather will help. The warm days and cool nights of late summer create an ideal climate for spore growth and dispersal.
Powdery mildew can be prevented, and it can be controlled once it appears, but it can't be cured. The key to preventing it is planting mildew-resistant or mildew- tolerant varieties. Resistant varieties get less mildew than susceptible varieties; tolerant varieties may get some mildew, but it shouldn't affect the performance of the plant. Prevention also includes siting plants where they will have good air circulation, and exposing as much leaf surface as possible to direct sunlight, which inhibits spore germination.


By | 2016-03-17T15:20:25-07:00 March 17th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments
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Water Quality

Flytraps and many other carnivorous plants require good water quality. They can decline and even die if wateed with tap water, which has high salt and heavy minerals. Using rainwater, distilled water, or similar is ideal. I have seen a carnivorous plant decline from a single watering months before it finally died. It was such a gradual decline that it was difficult to recognize that the tap water was the issue. Fertilizer and soil type is also very important to their health. No fertilizer should ever be used and only peat moss should be used for potting. They are very demanding in their care. Here is a website that can provide more detail on how to grow them and what issue can impact their health: Http://www.carnivorousplants.org/howto/GrowingGuides/Dionaea.php

By | 2016-03-17T10:41:48-07:00 March 17th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments
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Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is an opportunistic disease and can be exacerbated by too much shade. Good air flow helps prevent it—in other words, plant where there's a bit of a prevailing breeze when you can and prune for good air circulation within the plant. Depending on what your plant is you can use Daconil which is a synthetic fungicide or Serenade, an organic fungicide. You will have to read the label to see if your plant is listed to be treated with the fungicide. Make sure you clean up all the leaves underneath the plant and put in the garbage, not the compost. You should start treating immediately. You will have to treat again next year because the spores will winter over in the soil. Without a doubt, this is one of the worst cases of powdery mildew I've ever seen.

By | 2016-03-16T07:45:10-07:00 March 16th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments
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Rust

These leaf spots may be rust, a fungal disease. Plus the tree is probably going dormant. Rust diseases is more prevalent in humid climates. It doesn't usually kill the plant, but the problem should be addressed asap to prevent further spread. When all the leaves drop dispose of them; do not compost! Rake up all old leaves from the base of the plant. Rust spores grow in standing water on leaves and the spores spread when rain or irrigation water splashes them onto neighboring leaves. Spores can overwinter on plant material. Suggest you spray with fungicide (often a sulphur spray-nurseries will have other options) as a dormant spray and maybe when new growth comes on in the spring - and keep it handy just in case you see rust developing early next summer.

By | 2016-03-15T23:22:50-07:00 March 15th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments
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Spidea

Cylindrosporium Leaf Spot
Spirea leaves with both surfaces exhibiting light-yellow lesions that darken over time suffer from Cylindrosporium filipendula leaf spot. Inspecting their undersides reveals yellowish, waxy spore masses. On heavily infected plants, the tiny, round leaf spots merge into large dead patches. Extensive summer leaf drop may follow. Splashing water spreads Cylindrosporium spores from leaf litter and contaminated plants.
Leaf Spot Control
Spireas tolerate mild leaf spot with no serious damage. Removing infected leaves and debris eliminates the spores they harbor. Watering the shrubs from beneath in the morning minimizes foliage moisture, reducing the risk of infection. Cylindrosporium seldom requires fungicidal treatment.

By | 2016-03-15T23:08:55-07:00 March 15th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments
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Succulent Bush Senecio Leaves Browning

We're not sure that your plant actually has a problem. From what we can see in the photo (and it's difficult to be sure exactly) the browning appears to be on the leaves closest in line to the bottom of the plant. If this is truly the case, it is normal. The oldest leaves closest to the bottom of the plant eventually die as with most plants - they did their job and are replaced by new ones. Make sure you have it growing in full sun, that it is in a well draining soil, and water thoroughly when you do but don't water again until the soil has dried out fairly well. Feel free to remove those dried up leaves and see if things don't settle down after this first rash of die-offs. Contact us again if the observation we made is incorrect or if the problem persists - I think it should be o.k.

By | 2016-03-15T10:04:17-07:00 March 15th, 2016|Plant Diseases|2 Comments
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Brown Apple Leaves

Unfortunately, we can't see the leaf clearly. Also, the best way to diagnose leaf damage is with a loop or hand magnifier. However, it is not a good thing when the fruit tree's leaves begin to brown because it hinders photosynthesis and the ability of the tree to obtain nutrients. Browning of the leaves can be due to a variety of reasons: infestation of aphids, mealybugs, scale, caterpillars, beetles; fungal or other diseases as well as environmental conditions such as poor-draining soil, inadequate moisture or early frost/freeze damage. We suggest you take a few of the browning leaves to a local garden center or the Nevada Extension Agency for confirmation of the problem. Here's a link to your local extension office - http://www.unce.unr.edu/programs/horticulture/

By | 2016-03-15T04:18:08-07:00 March 15th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments
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Blue Spruce Damage

Because the damage is localized to one part of the tree, there may be some type of insect/borer/nesting critter that has attacked this area. It's hard to see borer damage without looking closely at the trunk near the affected branches. Because this is a high value tree, you might want to consider having an Arborist or an experienced landscaper examine this area of the tree. If you choose to examine it yourself, wear protective clothing and glasses - Blue Spruce trees can be painful to examine, especially with dried needles. Sawdust or small wood shavings near the base of the trunk are signs of borer or beetle damage. If you examine it yourself and see evidence of beetle or borer presence, here's a link to your local Extension Office.

By | 2016-03-14T07:56:14-07:00 March 14th, 2016|Plant Diseases|0 Comments
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