20 diseased shrubs - Ask Extension
All of our scrubs again this year are throughly diseased. To cut off all the diseased branches would leave the scrubs totally bare. Can they be cure...
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20 diseased shrubs #874670
Asked June 25, 2024, 4:16 PM EDT
All of our scrubs again this year are throughly diseased. To cut off all the diseased branches would leave the scrubs totally bare. Can they be cured? Yesterday there were these black ants with rings on their butts all over, even clustered on some branches and on the underside of the leaves. I sprayed them all with a natural oil mixture so no ants today. What should I do?
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
I would guess there are aphids on the underside of the leaves and along the stems. The ants are there because they are attracted to the honeydew (sweet sticky substance) that the aphids secret. Check for these insects. https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/how-heatwave-affects-garden-pests
Hi Barbara, that explains the ants, what about the disease that has affected all of my shrubs. Would more pictures of them help
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 25, 2024, at 9:25 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Your shrubs could just be showing those symptoms due to the feeding of aphids. If you don't feel that is the problem, then it is probably as bacterial leaf spot disease. Go to this and follow the directions. Sanitation will be extremely important. https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/leaf-spot-diseases-trees-and-shrubs
