Yes, I think I have read every article I can find on it. Had to rip up 10 echinacea because several had it so I got freaked out that they all had it . also had 2 veronica that had it and 2 phlox that I wasn't sure about. All in the trash. Needless to say I was in tears so I'm really worried about other plants and there chances. Can't find anything on peoples experiences with it long term. Most posts only mention about finding flower with it but nothing about whether how long it showed its ugly face in the garden. I am really stressing over if I got rid of it.

Needless to say I was in tears so I'm really worried about other plants and there chances.

==>>> every loss.. no matter how it occurs.. is an open spot for a new opportunity ... look on the bright side ... how many more new and exciting plants can you get ...

probably.. whoever has dealt with this.. doesnt really want to relive it ad nauseum ... and therefore never speaks of he who shall not be named .... lol .. maybe its a she.. since she called aster ?????

ken

1 or 2 plants I would agree with you but 16 (forgot about the 2 sneezeweed) is just to much for there to be a bright side. I wish I could be a glass half full kinda person!

People have gotten a lot of support here with posts titled something like "Rabbits ate up my garden" or "Yellow asters destroyed my garden" or in my case "Overwhelmed and discouraged by weeds" Seriously. People are very supportive and they also get to tell their tales of woe.

Sometimes we really are desolated by garden events and I think disease and animal pests are the worst because we have very little control over them. I'm saying contemplate the half empty glass then pick up your garden gloves and plant some annuals.

There is a lot of awareness out there of just how many diseases and pests the gardener is facing every season. I've recently become more aware of it, and didn't realize how much of a problem it is becoming. Although just reviewing in your head how many different pests and diseases make the news when they are really destructive, like the ash borer, it does start to give you that perspective.

I'm not sure how much we can all do about it, but it makes sense to me that the biggest action we can take is preventative. Being aware, being careful of where we buy plants from. Asking questions of nurseries about what diseases they are dealing with. Keeping a clean garden, cleaning our tools with alcohol, Knowing the symptoms of different diseases so we recognize them quicker. Wearing disposable gloves whenever you handle any plant that you suspect has a disease. Not the way any of us want to garden. It becomes a lot of hard work.

HU - that is a LOT of plants, and a worry about whether you've got it all. Since you are doing a lot of reading up on it and trying to follow recommendations, then you are doing everything you can. The link above from MOBOT, recommends replanting with plants that are less susceptible and lists them. And they suggest insects are spreading the disease, so putting in plants that those particular insects are not interested in, will deter them from continuing in your bed.

I think we can all use a reminder to be vigilant. Gardening can be very rewarding but it is also a lot of time, money and work, that we invest in it and it feels awful when you have this kind of a loss and a worry. I hope that is the end of it for you.

Well I am ready to give up! Seems aster yellows isn't my only problem. Came home today and found my tree blown over right on top of my garden! I feel like someone is trying to tell me something. Thanks for all your replies.

HU - So sorry to hear about a fallen tree!! Such a mess. These summer storms are getting worse than winter storms. We had a branch down in the spring and it just missed the car by inches. We have old trees and too many seasons with either too much or too little rain and we had 6 seasons of winter moth damage, so I keep wondering every time we have a storm if one of them is coming down.

I hope that you were able to get some help with the clean up and at this point, it is understandable if you can't wait for this particular growing season to be over with. Hope to hear back from you, how you are doing when you can.

Well we got most of it cut up. Gotta haul it away still and get the roots out. As for the garden everything was smashed to the point I had to cut everything back. Luckily it wasn't a huge tree, just a crabapple. Had to pull up a Russian Sage that had its roots smashed by a branch but most of the damage was just broken plant stems so hopefully the rest will be ok next year .