Help with leaf spot and pest problem in small backyard

12 years ago

Hello everyone please someone give me some advice about leaf spotting on my red rocket (lol) crape myrtle. this looks like Cercospora Leaf Spot?
I'm still a noob when it comes to gardening but I've been learning over the last 3 years as a new home owner.
I've had problems with two 2 year old azaleas, one I had to get rid of and the other is recovering from a lace bug infection. I have a double knock out rose nose that has holes in its leaves but I haven't seen any pest. Same thing happened last year but I saw the little worms on the under sides of the leafs. I use this natural bug killer from Home Depot for that.

The reason I'm here tonight is because I planted a red rocket crape myrtle on may 24th. It's been doing really well. It has even grown some as I can see it over the fence now and has started form buds. I check on it a lot and look at the under side of its leafs and what not. This week there have been about 10 leafs that have turned yellow / red and a whole bunch of others have small dark spots underneath. I have all this stuff planted up against my fence. The rose bush is close but I've cut it back. I'm concerned about the soil quality and the proximity of these other plants that have problems. They all share a garden bed. I have other crapes. One planted and one in a large container. They are cheapo no name ones from HD. Haven't a clue how big they'll get.
I have a new evergreen Rhinehold close too but it's in a planter.

This post was edited by markjg on Thu, Jun 19, 14 at 20:34

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Comments (4)

markjg
Original Author
12 years ago
Just to show how close things are.
markjg
Original Author
12 years ago
Red rocket crape
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
if you planted it less than a month ago.. then its transplant shock... water properly for the rest for the year ...

IMHO.. disease simple does not happen that fast.. and we have to presume.. that it came.. disease free from a seller ...

as a newb.. let me suggest.. you have had more problems.. and more treatments.. than i have on my 5 acres in 10 years ... as i dont treat anything.. ever ....

try to become a little less of a worrier.. and understand.. that a garden is not a disney movie ... you dont have to react to.. and treat every little thing.. and not everything will be picture perfect ...

search for knowledge ... but dont react.. unless the plant is threatened ..

and thats my wisdom for the day ..

good luck

ken

ps: i would bet.. that transplant shock is increased due to all the brick work.. which retains heat long into the night.. which is usually a cooler recovery time... nothing to do about that.. but water properly ... your plant is hardening off.. to its new location ....

pps: its stressed.. not hungry.. feeding it will not help ...
markjg
Original Author
12 years ago
I think this is what's going on...
"University of Florida researchers had been getting sporadic reports from nursery owners over the last five years of a leaf spot problem, and those reports have only increased in frequency. Through genetic testing, scientists identified the disorder as being caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis. The disease is most likely spread by wind-driven rain or overhead irrigation, and some crape myrtle varieties are more susceptible than others."
http://news.ifas.ufl.edu/2014/07/beloved-crape-myrtle-in-nurseries-now-susceptible-to-bacterial-leaf-spot-researchers-say/

Thanks for the response ken. I think you're mostly right and I won't worry about it like I was. It's a small backyard and the back yard was in real disarray when I bought the townhouse through a short sale. I think that's why I've had a lot of bugs and really poor soil in the yard.

This post was edited by markjg on Fri, Jul 11, 14 at 14:14