Distorted Growth Problems in Roses & Gardens

Anthracnose is a general term for fungal diseases that attack shade trees, shrubs and lawns. The most common trees affected include dogwood, elm, maple, sycamore and white oak. Due to their size, it is difficult to control on trees. On trees and shrubs, the fungal disease leaves reddish-brown, black or tan spots on leaves and sunken cankers on stems.

Black Spot is a fungus that most commonly affects roses. You can identify Black Spot by the round, black spots – with fringed, often yellow, margins.

Downy Mildew is a group of fungus-like diseases that are often confused with botrytis, Powdery Mildew and other foliage diseases. Downy Mildew often starts with white to bluish-white, fluffy growth on the undersides of the leaves, and yellow spots on the tops of the leaves. As the infected area dies, it can turn yellow to brown, purplish, reddish-black or bleached white, and the fluffy growth turns grayish.

Leaf Spot is a common term used for a number of fungal and bacteria-derived diseases that affect the foliage of shade and ornamental trees as well as other plants.

Powdery Mildew is a fungal disease that can affect many common plants in both wet and dry conditions, but is most prevalent in cool, dry weather with high humidity. Powdery Mildew spores require dry conditions to spread and are suppressed by excess moisture.

Ornamental Rust is a fungal disease that affects ornamental and edible plants in wet and humid conditions. It is caused by many different species of fungi in the genus Puccinia. Some types infect only one type of plant.

Aphids are very small, pear-shaped soft-bodied insects that commonly infest many garden plants, especially roses and vegetables. Often called "Plant Lice", they range from less than 1/8 to 1/4 inch long. An aphid comes in many colors, but green, black and yellow are common.

Borers are usually cream-colored larvae of beetles and moths that feed just below tree bark. They grow from ¼ inch to 1½ inches in length. Many Borers are host plant specific such as Emerald Ash Borer and Eucalyptus Longhorned Borer. They are attracted to or infest specific types of trees. Other Borers attack a range of plants.

Cottony Cushion Scales are a soft scale insect. They get their name and appearance from the hundreds of white waxy egg sacks that mature females attach to their bodies.

Adult Japanese Beetles are ½-inch long, oval-shaped hard-shelled bugs with metallic green and copper wings. An adult Japanese beetle can often be seen in clusters of 20 or more hanging from different types of fruits and flowers. Learns the ins and outs of these pests and how to get rid of Japanese beetles.

Leafhoppers are small, wedge-shaped hopping insects. Adults are about ¼ inch long and slender. They range in color from green to brown and yellow. They have a distinctive "sideways" walking movement and are excellent flyers. Their eyes are on the side of their head, and they have piercing mouthparts. They are found throughout home gardens.

Leaf Miners are the tiny larvae of various insects such as Flies, Sawflies, Small Moths and Beetles.

Mealybugs are scale-like insects with a white, waxy protective covering that makes infested plants appear to be covered in cotton. These pests are tiny – from 1/32 to 1/8 inch long – but are very hard to control because of the wax-like threads they cover themselves with.

Scale is a name applied to 8,000 different species of insects. While they vary greatly in appearance, Scales are significant crop and tree pest. Female Scales develop a protective covering, and become immobile (sessile) and attached to the plant they are feeding on.

Spider Mites are very tiny arachnids; adult females are about 0.4mm long. They have four pairs of legs and a pair of needlelike stylets (mouth parts) they use to pierce plant tissue and suck juices.

Thrips are tiny (1/16 inch long) slender sucking insects that are yellow, brown or black with fringed wings.

You will see whiteflies on plants as tiny (1/16 inch), white, four-winged, fly-like insects that usually congregate on undersides of leaves. White flies often swarm in clouds when disturbed.