Crepe Myrtle Spotted Leaves

Question

Hi: I had had a major issue ( Sooty Mold ) with my Crepe Myrtle Bush back in Sept 2019. All the leaves ended up falling off and by July 2020 it appeared to be completely dead except for some small new growth at the bottom. I posted some questions and pics and was told to cut it back. Before cutting it back I had been treating it with Neem Oil. After I cut it back, I continued treating it with Neem Oil and Bio Advanced Tree and Shrub Insect Control. Once this past spring past, the Crepe Myrtle took off and grew rather quickly and is blooming a lot. However about a week ago, I noticed some spots on the leaves towards the top of the bush. It’s not widespread but enough to make me want to post the pics here. I live in Central NJ and the weather has been very hot and humid for quite a while. After nursing this Crepe Myrtle back to good health over the past 2 years, I want to prevent any type of fungus or insect issues now. I posted pics from 2019 through present to show the progress. Thanks in advance for your help.

Answer 1

I would look for insect pests (scale, aphids, beetles, caterpillars, etc.) that may be affecting the foliage. Once you find them, you need to identify them and apply appropriate counter measures. For example, scale, aphids and whiteflies tend to produce sooty mold. You can try to remove the sooty old with water, a tiny amount of soap and a hose. If the insects are no longer visible, they may have already left; in that case, make a note in a 2022 calendar to look for this type of damage starting a month before you noticed it this year. I would not worry if the damage is limited though. By the end of the summer, few plants look as pristine as they once were at the start of spring.