Whats wrong with my lilac?

last year

My lilac leaves are curling. No bugs that I can see. What is it? I had a very old lilac in my back yard that died off over the last few years. It had a whitish layer on the leaves tho, it didn't look like this. This lilac is in the front yard. Hoping I don't lose this bush too.

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Comments (5)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
those leaves will fall off in a few weeks.. after the frost hard frost or freeze.. it is michigan after all .....

personally i dont treat ugly leaves after 9/1

powedery mildew is endemic with older lilacs... that did not kill the old bush...

do a good clean up after they fall.. no use leaving them there for spring....

and have a nice winter..

ken
djacob Z6a SE WI
last year
Ditto.

debra
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arbordave (SE MI)
last year
Other than the curling it looks like the leaves are healthy (no pests or diseases), so the cause could be as simple as wetter than normal soil conditions, or possibly its roots absorbed some broadleaf herbicide if the lawn was treated nearby.
Kathleen Smith SE michigan, Zone 6a
Original Author
last year
No lawn treatments. Maybe a little wetter than usual, but not by much.
BillMN-z-2-3-4
last year
My common lilacs always look bad this time of year:

Usually not this bad but it's been extremely dry this season.