| My crepe myrtle is quite old, approximately 20 years old. I dont think it has been trimmed correctly in the past, but not sure if this has contributed to the problem or not. It has not bloomed in the past 3 years, even though I have supplemented the soil. I have noticed it has a white substance on the leaves and they are curled around the edges. The trunk even has some white spots and is |
| The powdery coating is most likely a fungal disease called powdery mildew and it can cause the leaves to curl. The best control is with a fungicide such as Banner or Daconil. Be sure to follow label directions - repeat sprays may be required. I'm not sure what the white spots on the trunk might be. They may also be powdery mildew or they may simply be lichen. Lichens are organisms consisting of a fungus and a green or blue-green algae. Lichen is common on branches and trunk bark, especially when the bark remains wet for extended periods of time either from humidity, high rainfall amounts, or if your sprinkler systems hits the trunk in the same spot day after day. The fungicide should help control lichen. It will dry up and peel off all on its own. Hope this information is helpful. |
