Lilac trouble (lack of knowledge)

Discussion in 'Woody Plants' started by mark Bugden, Sep 27, 2006.

  1. mark Bugden

    mark Bugden Member

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    Hi all i have a Lilac shrub 4 yrs old with only one flower last year .I solved my flower question with some studies but I also have some white powdery substance forming on leaves ? What is best resolve . Maybe a antifungal spray? if so .what one ? Any answer would be apprieciated. Was also curious, lilacs like non acidic soil
    so i add lime. Could i add a high phosphorus fertilizer also for greener leaves and flower production. So mad i did not know to prune flowers when they died off But i am learning. thanks
     
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2006
  2. Rima

    Rima Active Member

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    You have powdery mildew so you will need a fungicide, but investigate the ones for sale as they're not all made for the same purpose, plants or fungus. Are they planted in full sun in well drained soil? Should be. Good idea for the fertilizer, but not now, the trees are going dormant for winter, so encouraging production of new leaves or flowers is kind of pointless. Go easy on the lime - you run more risk of 'offending' the trees with too much of it than you do by not adding it in.
     
  3. mark Bugden

    mark Bugden Member

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    Thank You for reply. Noted all and x my fingers. Take a lot of pride in my yard
     
  4. Newt

    Newt Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Hi Mark,

    Here's some handy info on growing lilacs. The don't generally need fertilizer. Too much nitrogen will cause leaf growth at the expense of flowers. A cup of lime sprinkled around the root zone and gently scratched into the soil once a year will help blooms if your soil is on the acid side. They prefer a more alkaline soil.
    http://spi.8m.com/care.htm
    http://www.gardenersnet.com/lilac/lilac02.htm

    For your powdery mildew be sure to clean up all fallen leaves this fall. You can spray with milk to treat powdery mildew. Yup, milk. A vinegar spray is good too. Here's some recipes.
    http://www.ghorganics.com/page15.html
    http://www.backyardgardener.com/tv/mildew.html
    http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s948323.htm

    Newt
     
  5. jimweed

    jimweed Active Member 10 Years

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    Lime Sulpher will help with powdery mildew, and its easily availible.
     
  6. mark Bugden

    mark Bugden Member

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    Ty for your help will try the milk theory. Sounds good and cheap too!
    I have one other thing with my lilac that you may be able to help with
    since it is a field of interest you like.
    ?? is- how do I rid my lilac of the pests that create the brown pactches on my leaves.
    I know they are like a microscopic pest that eats between the leafs layers and would love to find a natural way to treat plant prior to this problem arriving every year

    Thank you Mark
     
  7. Newt

    Newt Well-Known Member 10 Years

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  8. mark Bugden

    mark Bugden Member

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    ty again Newt will be much more dilligent with this lilac next spring now that i've got a handle on "How to"! Apprieciated greatly.Thank you very much!
     
  9. Newt

    Newt Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    You are very welcome again! :)

    Happy blossoms,
    Newt
     
  10. jimweed

    jimweed Active Member 10 Years

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    Are you sure that you have leaf miners? After 20yrs of tree spraying around our Lowemainland, I am yet to see them in Lilacs, though they are known infest them. Although Bacterial Blight will leave very similar symptoms, and is quite common locally.
    Jim.
     
  11. Newt

    Newt Well-Known Member 10 Years

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  12. mark Bugden

    mark Bugden Member

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    ty Newt Yes definetly bacterial blight it looks like. Looks just like picture.

    Jimweed -I took a leaf into a person @ Artknaps Plantland, that i really know ,knows her stuff and she described it as a microscopic catipillar "lol" sorta think she gave it to me in laymans terms?? then i ask on this site to confirm. Seems to be blight, nothing else looks like this blight i guess let me know if possible other problems look like blight?? Thank really want this lilac to grow nicely!!
     
  13. jimweed

    jimweed Active Member 10 Years

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    I am glad you have a better understanding of what your Lilac problem seems to be. You ask of other possible problems. From my expierence with Lilac's, Bacterial blight is most common around are area, there is also Anthracnose, that generally effects the leaf with brown blotches. And of course drought that dries out the leaf tips gradually, as the leaf eventually shrivels up and falls off. You want to help your Lilac, from what I am reading between the lines here, I would apply fixed copper fall and spring as well as lime sulphur in the winter. Might even remove any branches that may be very long and spindly with leaves only on the tips of those branches,{another symptom of Bacterial blight}. And follow up with a good fertilizing in the late spring. Now that is only my opinion as I get paid to make plants look good, and many people may not like to spray anything.
    Regards Jim.
     
  14. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Do fertilize this fall if a soil test shows a need for fertilizer. Fall fertilization of hardy plants is superior to spring on multiple counts. Same with the lime, put on if a soil test shows a need. Do not apply fertilizers or pesticides without a clearly identified indication first. Do choose products that address that particular need.
     
  15. jimweed

    jimweed Active Member 10 Years

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    Ron, do you mean pH test, or for micro and macro nutrients?
     
  16. mark Bugden

    mark Bugden Member

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    Jim the tests in my area are always acidic need regular lime applications i am basically in a river bed area very sandy rocky well drained ground that is perfect for plants /trees / shrubs that don't want long term saturation. So i'm thinking couple small applications of lime in fall winter spring, should meet my shrubs needs.
    But am also curious about these tests so if you get your reply will be interested to here about answer.
     
  17. Newt

    Newt Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Jim and Mark,

    I don't mean to answer for Ron, but I'm certain he means both a pH test and a soil test for nutrients to see what MIGHT be needed. Of course compost, which tends to be near neutral in pH, can always be added.

    Newt
     

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