PLANT DOCTOR
DIAGNOSING A PROBLEM
You may have observed one of the above conditions in your landscape and wondered how serious it is. Will the plant die? What should I do? One can be a pretty good doctor by studying the plant using the following guidelines:
Study the symptoms
Ø Examine the entire plant.
Describe the abnormalities.
What is its normal appearance at this time of the year?
Where and when did the initial damage occur?
What is the extent of the damage? Symptoms restricted to leaves, bark or limbs?
Did symptoms appear suddenly or over a period of time?
Ø Look for patterns.
Entire plant afflicted? Major portion, top or single branch dying?
More than one host afflicted?
Wide spread damage?
Wide spread damage on certain leaf age or exposure side only?
Diagnose the cause.
Ø Insects: Chewed leaves or bark, swollen leaf surfaces, puckering or skeletonizing of foliage, silvery slime trails, galls, fine webbing or black debris on underside of leaves
Ø Bacterial infection: The leaves will be slimy and sticky, have a fishy or rotten odor. Leaf spots will have irregular or angular shapes with a yellow halo that does not cross the leaf vein.
Ø Fungal infection: The leaf will have spots along veins or margins that are circular with concentric rings and be dry and papery. Leaf color will change to red or yellow. Spores, mycelia, and molds can be found on the leaves. Stem or root rot evidenced by dieback and wilting is caused by fungus.
Ø Temperature extremes: Extremes will cause wilting, desiccation, and frost cracks.
Ø Unsuitable cultural conditions: (light, moisture, improper soil preparation and fertilization) Plant growth, color and blossoming will not be normal.
Ø Accidental spraying with pesticides will cause abnormal growth, decline or plant death.
Ø Scattered damage on only one or a few plant species is indicative of insects and pathogens.
Ø Uniform damage over a large area or several plant species is probably due to physical (weather and exposure), mechanical or chemical causes. Damage confined to the initial point, it is probably caused by mechanical or physical factors.
Contact the Extension Service for help in diagnosing and controlling plant problems. Our telephone number is 770 528-4070.
Reference: Diseases of Urban Ornamentals, Alfredo Martinez, University of Georgia
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