Diseased Shrubs - Ask Extension
Disease spreading from shrub to shrub, leaves look sickly, yellow and/or dry out, then drop off resulting in a bare shrub. Tree Hydrangea, shrub Hydr...
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Diseased Shrubs #478494
Asked August 15, 2018, 5:09 PM EDT
Disease spreading from shrub to shrub, leaves look sickly, yellow and/or dry out, then drop off resulting in a bare shrub. Tree Hydrangea, shrub Hydrangea, Burning Bush and Dwarf Cranberry are in one garden, south facing along house, began in more shaded area We have watered, used Bayer Vegetable and Garden Insect Spray and Bonide Copper Fungicide. Now seeing webbing on dried leaves and branches. Continuing to spread. Large Hydrangea Shrub yellowing from the center of plant. Can;t seem to stop it. In another garden, west facing, hosta leaves are turning yellow then brown. A newly planted this year, Azalea's leaves turned rust colored. There is some new green growth but some of that is turning color. We are in clay soil. Have never experienced this before and don't know what to do. I can send more photos.
Thank you.
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
Have you been keeping the shrubs watered when it is dry? The azalea looks like it is just drying up. The other photos show a serious spider mites infestation. An insecticidal soap sprayed according to the label to the underside of the leaves is necessary. Make sure that you repeat as the label instructs. You can hose them off well and let dry before spraying too. Hosta's like shade so a west facing hosta is probably getting too much sun. Some fertilizer next spring would be helpful as well. Don't fertilize now as it will encourage new growth that would most likely be damaged by winter. Regular watering is important but too much water in clay soil is not good as it is slow to drain and you don't want them to sit in wet soil.