Dear matthew,

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YOUR QUESTION #0143870:

Fungus on Boston Ivy

Hello! Can you please help diagnose what's going on with my Boston Ivy? I've had the plan for 6+ years (purchased at Gerten's in Inver Grove Heights) and it's provide amazingly lush/green foliage on my picketfence. Unfortunately for the last few years I've noticed brown spotting on the leaves that start early-mid summer and last the rest of season. I'm wondering if this is a particular disease/fungus and if there's a way to treat it or if I should get rid of the vines. Thanks so much for your help! Matt

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It looks like your Boston Ivy is suffering from a fungal infection. There really is nothing to be done about it. Fungi are everywhere and their affect on plants is usually cosmetic. 

We have had a lot of rain this year so that is a contributing factor. Even in dry time, the vines are dense and so don’t always allow the leaves to dry out. 

Good clean up will go a long way towards controlling it. Clean up and discard all fallen leaves in your city compost. Do not add them to your own compost bin unless you know it gets hot enough to destroy the pathogens. 

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/guignardia-leaf-spot/

https://portal.ct.gov/caes/plant-pest-handbook/pphb/boston-ivy-parthenocissus#:~:text=Diseases%20caused%20by%20Fungi%3A,of%20infection%20by%20these%20fungi.