I have three ornamental trees that all have developed a problem with their leafs. I do not even rank as an amature when it comes to gardening, so any help would be very much appreciated. The problems may be completely individual in nature, but all have appeared around the same time. The trees are: Crimson Red Japenese Maple (Leaf curling under - black spots and holes) Lavender Twist - Weeping Redbud (Leaf cover with a white powder like substance and leaf looks like its dying) Star Magnolia (Brown spots starting to appear form the center of the leave out. ) I have attached pictures since they basically tell it all Thank you so much for anyone taking the time to look and /or respond. Regards Christopher
Did some show up in the spring or early summer when weather was more moist. Did others show up after any stretch of hot days? How's the soil - like digging in a brick, or reasonable?
The ground is not hard at all. Even though I live in a very red clay enviornment. This area was constructed special and filled with top soil and a mushroom mixture recommended by the local Nursary. This was constructed about a year and a half ago. This started actually a couple of months ago. While is was somewhat hot and very little rain, the area is under regular irrigation every other day by my sprinkler system and each of these trees do well in full sun. I do not suspect sun blistering since other ornamentals in the neighborhood and surround areas are doing quit well. I suspect a funi of sort, but have no idea what it could be. Now...I will say this (and this may be completly unrelated) however. I also found about this same time that I had a huge problem with my arbovitaes - Emerald Greens - in the back of my house (these ornamentals are in the front) I had/have a white moth investation. I've used immunox and another one(cannort remember the name at the moment) and I think I have that under control although I may have to spray them again. I have not seen any moths or any bugs at all on my ornamentals. I dont think I've overwatered. I have spray a few times with Round-Up to kill weeds in the general vacinity, but I seriously doubt this is the issue. Anyway...thank you for the time you've taken to read and help with this very troubling problem. I greatly appreciate it.
Mushroom compost can be quite alkaline, I believe. Suspect that could be your problem. If doing more planting later don't make small amended areas, it doesn't produce improved results over planting in existing soil and mulching after planting.
Magnolia looks like it has mildew. Others have appearance typical of plants getting too much mineral salts, in hot climates with 'hard' water. Do not see anything resembling glyphosate injury as I have seen it here.
Hi Christopher, Too much water too often will lead to bacterial or fungal problems and could cause root rot. I'm wondering if your maple isn't getting watered deeply enough as the leaf tips appear burned. Here's some Japanese maple insect & pest info. If your site is full sun with the hot afternoon sun, I think that could also be a problem. See the last paragraph at the second site. http://www.mountainmaples.com/WS4D_Cookie=10.7.06_22,12,24_19/ART_pests.html http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel174243&catid=cat382&navLevel=4 More helpful Japanese maple info. http://www.mountainmaples.com/WS4D_Cookie=10.7.06_22,12,24_19/articles.html The wilted and curled leaves of your redbud, along with yellow margins and the leaf spots reminds me of Verticillium wilt. Also look at the second site for 'Leaf spots' in the first paragraph to see if those symptoms fit better. http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP_6_W.pdf http://www.caes.state.ct.us/PlantPestHandbookFiles/pphR/pphredb.htm There are also leaf spot diseases that will effect your maple and magnolia. From this site with lots of other info: http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/spfiles/SP546.pdf I have a feeling that your overhead sprinkler system might be to blame here. Do be sure to clean up all fallen leaves as soon as possible. Also check to see that the rootflare of these trees isn't buried or mulch piled against the trunks. http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/planting/rootgrowth.htm http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/mulching.aspx Here's info on watering trees. http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/water/az1298/ http://www.watersaver.org/pdfs/FALL_CARING_FOR_TREES.pdf Newt
