DISEASE ID · FUNGAL DISEASE
Powdery mildew
Also called Powdery mildew on roses, powdery mildew on crape myrtle, rose mildew
A white, powdery coating on leaves, buds, and young shoots. It is common on roses and crape myrtles and can twist and stunt new growth.
How to spot it
- White, powdery growth on leaves, buds, and twigs
- Usually on top of the leaf, sometimes underneath
- Young, tender growth is hit first
- Leaves curl, twist, or look dwarfed
- Buds can shrivel and drop, and shoots can dry up
Why it shows up
Spores blow in on the wind. It likes warm days and cool nights, around 60 to 80 degrees, and humid air. It does not need wet leaves to spread. Very hot weather, above 90 degrees, can slow it down.
How we treat it
We will identify it on a visit and recommend the right fix. A lot of it is cultural: full sun, good airflow from selective pruning, and not overfeeding. Resistant crape myrtles help when you replant. If a treatment makes sense, we will talk it through with you.
What you can do
- Give plants full sun and room for air to move.
- Rake up and throw away affected leaves in the fall.
- Go easy on fertilizer, and pick resistant crape myrtle varieties when you replant.
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Prefer to talk? 817-382-1722Licensed applicator, Texas Department of Agriculture · License #0984138