Please feel free to use this very brief guide to problems and solutions to common plants used in the Middle Georgia Area. Also, remember that each problem is unique and to always read the instructions on the chemical bottle. If you still feel uncomfortable contact us for additional help.
Azaleas
The leading cause for trouble for an azalea is Sun Scorch. Azaleas grow in the shade; when planted in direct sunlight the tips of the leaves appear to be burned, especially at the top of the plant. Sun Scorch is a cultural problem and can only be cured by a constant watering or transplanting to a shadier spot. Occasionally, a large mass of tan to white hard material will appear on or near the leaves. This is Leaf Gall and can only be cured by cutting the affected areas away from the plant. Many times customers ask us why their plant did not bloom; we ask them when the azalea was trimmed. If an azalea is prunned before they bloom or after June 15, then the plant probably will not bloom.
Bedding Plants
The most common symptom in bedding plants is Wilting; however, usually it is caused by too much water rather than too little. Allow the soil around the plant to dry completely before the next watering. Another is Failure to Bloom, which is mostly related to improper maintenance. After the flower has fully opened and is begining to fade in color, cut or dead-head the blooms to encourage further blossoms.
Crepe Myrtles
The perennial southern charmer, the crepe myrtle is affected by a common problem in the humid South: Powdery Mildew. Powdery Mildew causes the flowers and often the leaves to look as if they were dusted with flour; left untreated, it can progress into Black Mold, a thick black paste covering the leaves. Both of these problems can be cured with two to three applications of Ortho's Funginex.
Junipers
The evergreen juniper is plagued with Spidermites in older, less maintained, beds. If you see webbing on the juniper, take a branch and hit it against a sheet of white paper. Spidermites will look like moving pieces of pepper on the white background. These are easily controlled by repeat applications of Ortho's Orthene.
Roses
Roses are very rewarding for the amount of effort put into them. Problems like Rust, which give the leaves a "rusted" look, can be handled with Funginex; Black Spot, characteristic of concentric black or dark-colored circles on the leaves, also can be controlled by two to three sprays seven to ten days apart. Since Powdery Mildew is can be caused by another major problem, Aphids-small green insects found feeding to young parts of the rose, we suggest Ortho's RosePride Orthonex. Orthonex is a combination of their best fungicide and insecticide. Occasionally, yellow spots or streaks will show on the leaf or the flower; this is probably a virus. All Varigated plants are infected with a virus. Sometimes it is a harmless infection, but if alot of the plant is discolored, you might want to remove it from the garden to protect the remaining roses. There is little to be done for a plant virus.
Trees-General
Trees are sometimes attacked by a fungus during the wet spring season. Use Ortho's Funginex at the first sign of damage so any ploblems are kept under control. If the tree suddenly drops some or all of its leaves, ask yourself: How long has the tree been planted? or Has there been any construction near the tree? Odds are the tree has transplant, or root, damage. Alot of water and even some water-soluble fertilizer is the only cure for this.
Vegetables
If there are holes in the leaves of your vegetables, then odds are you have some type of insect. Since there are so many insects that eat the delicate vegetable leaves, we cannot name them all here. We can tell you an application of Pennington's Pride Sevin Dust probably will cure the problem.
Wax Leaf Ligustrum
The border plant or hedge of a wax leaf ligustrum will sometimes have hard oyster-like pieces the size of small button on the stems. This is Scale. Scale is an insect therefore easily contained by Orthene.
Back To Top
Go to Garden Center
Return to Home
Contact us at [email protected]
Revised 13 December 1998
Pennington, Ortho, Nutrena, Vitality are registered trademarks.
All rights reserved.
�1998 Ivey's Nursery & Landscaping, Inc.