Japanese Blueberry Has Sooty Mold

My tree is in terrible shape. The leaves have what looks like a lot of black mold on them. One side of the tree has lost all of its leaves. My landscaper planted this tree last year and I'm wondering if the sprinkler is watering it too much. This tree looks like it could die.

Your intuition is correct on two points: it is indeed a type of mold, and it is indeed getting too much water. Your Japanese blueberry has sooty mold, but that's not the real problem. Sooty mold only grows on honeydew, which is a polite term for what comes out of the back-end of an aphid, scale, or other sucking insect. (It is high in sugar: hence the name.) So if you get rid of the scale, then you remove the food source that the sooty mold grows on. Simple, right? Well, not always. Some scale insects are really difficult to control. There are organic solutions, and there are some that are derived from compounds found in nature but are actually synthesized in a lab. These work pretty well. You will not likely get control of scale on Japanese blueberry with something purchased over the counter. I espouse a nutritional/cultural approach. Cut off their irrigation almost completely, and incorporate organic matter into the soil (you can hire us to do this by our Root Invigoration procedure). Poor soil nutrition and wet feet make Japanese blueberry more susceptible to scale and other sucking insects. Mulching, root invigoration, taking steps to improve internal drainage--all these things can help, but you need these guys gone now! You could wipe each leaf clean, but it would be labor-intensive and the results would be disappointing. Horticultural oil helps, but you're too late to apply the more effective winter rate. If these corrections don't result in an improvement by early summer, then you might consider a systemic treatment. We'll be happy to provide you a quote to help take care of the problem. Chances are, it's not the only plant getting too much water.

View more FAQs

query

RESULTSET

query
	ALTURL	COMMERCIAL	COMMERICALMENUIMAGE	CONSULTANCYPAGE	HTMLTITLE	ICONIMAGE	ID	LOCALOFFICEDESCRIPTION	MAINCALLOUTTEXT	MAINCALLOUTURL	MOBILEDESCRIPTION	MOBILESERVICEMENU	MOBILESERVICENAME	REGIONS	SEARCHKEYWORDS	SERVICEDESCRIPTION	SERVICEIMAGE	SERVICENAME	SERVICETYPE	SERVICEURL	SHOWINTOPNAV	SIDEBARCALLOUTTEXT	SIDEBARCALLOUTURL
1	[empty string]	1	commercial-insect-and-disease-management.jpg	[empty string]	Pest and Tree Disease Management	icon_insect-and-disease-management.png	8	Bartlett uses an integrated approach to suppress pests and manage tree diseases on your property.	[empty string]	[empty string]	<h2>An integrated approach to managing pests and diseases</h2><p>Bartlett Tree Experts uses an integrated approach to managing insects and diseases that begins with maintaining plant health using sound cultural practices including pruning and creating optimal soil conditions for plant growth. Periodic inspections are essential to detect pest infestations before they reach damaging levels. Bartlett arborists are trained to recognize beneficial insects that will help naturally suppress pest populations, and we also release beneficials to augment existing populations. When treatments are necessary, Bartlett can apply organic and natural-based materials and reduced-risk products that provide effective pest suppression while protecting people and the environment.</p><p>Hundreds of insect species damage leaves, stems, and branches; roots; and flowers and fruit of landscape plants. But not all insects on trees and shrubs are damaging. Some are beneficial and may help pollinate flowers or could be predators or parasites on insects that damage plants. Bartlett arborists are trained to correctly identify these beneficial insects and mites and can devise effective management programs that protect landscape plants from serious damage while conserving beneficial organisms.</p><p>Diseases are abnormalities in trees and shrubs caused by microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria and by environmental stress such as drought, temperature extremes, and air pollution. Diseases are often difficult to diagnosis as different causal agents can produce similar symptoms. Accurate diagnosis is essential to developing effective treatment programs. Bartlett operates a modern diagnostic laboratory to support pest management services to ensure accurate identification and treatment of plant problems.</p>	We use an integrated approach to manage pests and tree diseases.	Pest Management	ne,south,mw,ms,cal,pnw,tx,az,gb,ab,bc,on,ie	insect and disease,diseases,insect and disease control,plant disease,insect resistance,insect and disease control,organic insect and disease,bug,bugs,residential service	Bartlett Tree Experts uses an integrated approach to managing insects and diseases on your home property. This begins with maintaining plant health using sound cultural practices including pruning and creating optimal soil conditions for plant growth.	banner_insect-and-disease-management.jpg	Insect and Disease Management	residentialServices	/insect-and-disease-management.cfm	1	[empty string]	[empty string]

CACHED

false

EXECUTIONTIME

SQL

select * from residentialServices where id in (?)

SQLPARAMETERS

array
1	8

FAQ

My tree is in terrible shape. The leaves have what looks like a lot of black mold on them. One side of the tree has lost all of its leaves. My landscaper planted this tree last year and I'm wondering if the sprinkler is watering it too much. This tree looks like it could die.

Related Content