Q. Can you tell what the problem is with my patio tree
and what I can do about it? The leaves are all covered in brown spots. I am not
sure which plant it is.
A. From the looks of the plant it seems to me to be a
photinia pruned as a patio tree. From the pictures you sent with the black
spots on the leaves I think it is either photinia leaf spot disease or more
likely, anthracnose. Neither one do we see much here.
photinia pruned as a patio tree. From the pictures you sent with the black
spots on the leaves I think it is either photinia leaf spot disease or more
likely, anthracnose. Neither one do we see much here.
Both diseases
can attack photinia and Majestic Beauty hawthorne so if your tree is either one
of these, this might be the problem. Majestic Beauty is particularly prone to
anthracnose while the smaller shrub-type hawthornes usually are not.
can attack photinia and Majestic Beauty hawthorne so if your tree is either one
of these, this might be the problem. Majestic Beauty is particularly prone to
anthracnose while the smaller shrub-type hawthornes usually are not.
Unhealthy
plants are MORE likely to get a disease than healthy ones. Anthracnose usually makes dark brown or tan
spots that look like irregular targets with concentric irregular rings in them.
plants are MORE likely to get a disease than healthy ones. Anthracnose usually makes dark brown or tan
spots that look like irregular targets with concentric irregular rings in them.
Poor air
circulation and wet leaves will make this disease worse. These diseases are thought
to spread when leaves are wet or if you spray them with a hose to keep them
moist. So irrigate only at the base of the tree and do not spray the leaves.
circulation and wet leaves will make this disease worse. These diseases are thought
to spread when leaves are wet or if you spray them with a hose to keep them
moist. So irrigate only at the base of the tree and do not spray the leaves.
The tree
and the interior of its canopy need air circulation to stay dry. Prune out
entire limbs from the trunk or branches so that air can move through the canopy
and not stagnate.
and the interior of its canopy need air circulation to stay dry. Prune out
entire limbs from the trunk or branches so that air can move through the canopy
and not stagnate.
Leaf
spot disease is caused by a different fungus and can re-attack the tree year
after year if you don’t pick up diseased leaves that have dropped and dispose
of them.
spot disease is caused by a different fungus and can re-attack the tree year
after year if you don’t pick up diseased leaves that have dropped and dispose
of them.
The
disease is less likely to be active when it is hot out. So if you have to spray
the foliage then avoid doing it during the cooler months. Do it during the summer
in the morning hours.
disease is less likely to be active when it is hot out. So if you have to spray
the foliage then avoid doing it during the cooler months. Do it during the summer
in the morning hours.
I
noticed something on the bottom of your leaves when I magnified the picture you
sent. Aphids? Soap and water sprays on the undersides of the leaves will
control them. Do it every three days for about four applications.
noticed something on the bottom of your leaves when I magnified the picture you
sent. Aphids? Soap and water sprays on the undersides of the leaves will
control them. Do it every three days for about four applications.
Your
tree is not in the best of health. Apply iron chelate in the form of EDDHA and
a good flowering tree fertilizer now, in very early spring, and once again
later in the season.
tree is not in the best of health. Apply iron chelate in the form of EDDHA and
a good flowering tree fertilizer now, in very early spring, and once again
later in the season.