Lilac help please - Ask Extension
I looked though the disease options listed on this site, but the leaves are not "black" nor do they seem to have a yellow halo appearance, s...
Knowledgebase
Lilac help please #877507
Asked July 16, 2024, 3:46 PM EDT
I looked though the disease options listed on this site, but the leaves are not "black" nor do they seem to have a yellow halo appearance, so I'm not sure if this is the same issue as bacterial blight. This lilac was beautiful in the spring but now it looks like this! :( I see it spreading to my second lilac nearby, so would really like to know if there is anything I can do to help them!
Dakota County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi Marilyn
Many lilacs are getting bacterial blight this year. Here's some helpful web pages:
Here's a couple good pages on bacterial blight:
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/lilac-bacterial-blight
http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/lilacbacterialblight.pdf
If you don't think this is blight, this page may help you narrow the cause:
https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/deciduous/lilac/
The only way to determine if this is blight is to have a sample of the plant tested. The Plant Disease Clinic at the U of M does this, but for a price. You can find more information here:
Sorry I can't give you a definitive answer. Good luck.
