Thank you. I have not been brave enough to try that, but I will do so.

It absolutely WILL NOT damage ;your precious plants. I do it w/o concern and have never had a loss or even damage

Well, yay! I just discovered this forum and will be seeking help quite often. Here's another problem: Crepe Myrtles and other shrub and plant leaves covered with black sooty mold (or so I am guessing). The leaves are unsightly and this has been an ongoing problem for several years. The black sticky mess is on boxwoods, sweet olive and yaupon. There are also white flies. I probably have 40 trees and about as many shrubs affected. I have used different sprays such as Malathion, a different chemical I cannot recall, and repeated the treatments every 2 weeks, but there's no discernible improvement.

It will stop when you stop overwatering, unless moisture is coming from eaves or some location where moisture accumulates then drips down your CMs. You can go to WM and look for a fungicide that says it treats mold, but truly, end the moisture source, end the problem.

Useful details from Univ of CA

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7432.html

The link jean001a posted (one I have posted many times) has this " They thrive in waterlogged soil, and their presence often indicates drainage is poor, irrigation is too frequent, or sprinklers are leaky. Once established, however, they will tolerate normal irrigation conditions or drought." about nutsedge's. Changing the environment these sedges grow in can often do more to eliminate them than spending a lot of your money on poisons that can also damage your environment.

kimmq is kimmsr

Creekgal, I suggest that you visit the Garden Clinic Forum, where you will receive appropriate responses to your Black Sooty Mold and whitefly issues.

BSM is not a problem caused, in any way, by excess water.

When you post your questions in the forum, be prepared to let us know where you are located and exactly what kinds of plants are having problems with what.

Please put your chemicals away until we have it all sorted out. Malathion can cause more problems than it helps.

This is the Weeds Forum. I'll be looking for you in the Garden Clinic!

Thank you so much. The sooty mold/white flies question was asked on the day I discovered this division of houzz, and I got so excited about it I forgot that I was in the weeds section. I knew that excess water was not likely the culprit because this was the driest summer we in Zone 8b have had in a while. Our sprinkler system is broken, so the affected trees and shrubs got very little water. Again, I appreciate your guidance.