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Monterrey oak diagnostic? #760395

Asked July 06, 2021, 10:15 PM EDT

Something has started appearing on the leaves of our young backyard Monterrey Oak, and I'm wondering if you all can provide advice about what it is and what we can do to remedy it ... or who we can ask for assistance in diagnosing/managing. We've only had the tree a few years and want to give it the best care possible. I've attached a photo. Many thanks!

Travis County Texas

Expert Response

It looks like powdery mildew. The leaves also appear chlorotic, which means there's something going on with the soil, possibly a nutrient deficiency. Since the tree is stressed, it is more susceptible to attacks from pests and diseases. The course of treatment is to identify and correct the imbalance in the soil, which could be that the soil is too alkaline (high pH), or there's poor drainage, or there's a nutrient that missing.

A certified arborist would be able to assess the site conditions and make a recommendation. Here's a site that can help you find a certified arborist in your area: https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist

It's never a bad idea to add a 2" layer of compost and 1" layer of mulch around the base of the tree (but not touching the trunk).

Travis County Master Gardeners Replied July 11, 2021, 12:03 PM EDT

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