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spirea question #879340

Asked July 29, 2024, 8:45 PM EDT

I live in a townhouse association and most of our spireas, many of them planted last summer, are dying. I'm attaching pics but the leaves turn red/brown and eventually the leaves shrivel up and the whole shrub dies. What would be causing this?

Anoka County Minnesota

Expert Response

Hi Amanda,

It could be fire blight;

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/fire-blight/

https://ask2.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=808126

Either way, cut out all dead branches and remove them. Water the plants if you don't get adequate rain.

There are many blights this summer because of the weather, lots of shrubs turning brown and crispy.

I hope this helps,

Sally Granath

St. Louis County MG

An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 31, 2024, 5:21 PM EDT
Thank you for the information!

This is throughout a 156 unit Association.  Does this mean the spireas are/will die and not come
back next year? It appears some are dead already. 

sent from my iPhone


On Wed, Jul 31, 2024 at 4:21 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied July 31, 2024, 5:33 PM EDT

Some may make it. It's a " wait and see" scenario. It also has to do with how stressed the plants will get ( temperature and moisture being factors).

An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 31, 2024, 8:49 PM EDT

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