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RTEC Treecare

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Powdery Mildew On Dogwoods And Crape Mrytles

Resources: Tree Problems

Powdery Mildew

If you have Lilacs, Peonies, Dogwoods, or Crape Myrtles you may have noticed an unsightly white substance building up on the leaves of your trees and shrubs in the next couple of weeks. The culprit? A fungus called Powdery Mildew which partially starves the tree and stresses it making the tree susceptible to diseases and insect infestations. Powdery mildew increases around this time of year when we experience long bouts of high humidity.

Tree Susceptible To Powdery Mildew:

As one of the most common and widespread plant diseases, this fungus can affect a wide range of plants and trees. However, our Arborists warn that Lilacs, Peonies, Dogwoods, and Crape Myrtles are especially susceptible in this area.

Powdery Mildew Symptoms:

Symptoms are typically seen on trees that are shaded and lack good air flow. The fungus is most commonly observed on the upper side of leaves but it can affect the bottom sides of leaves, young stems, buds, flowers, and young fruit.

Powdery Mildew Is Characterized By:

  • spots or patches of white to grayish, talcum-powder like growth.
  • yellowing leaves
  • leaf wilt
  • branch dieback

Advanced Infections Will Cause: 

  • distorted leaves
  • premature leaf drop
  • blemishes on fruit
  • buds that won’t open

Powdery Mildew 2

powdery mildew 1


Need Help With Powdery Mildew?

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Or Call 703.573.3029


How Does It Hurt My Tree?

Powdery Mildew coats the trees leaves blocking the process of photosynthesis which turns light into food for trees and shrubs. Every year trees and shrubs rely on their food reserves to push out new leaf growth. These newly produced leaves must then replenish the food supply through photosynthesis. When this process is interrupted by powdery mildew the food reserves aren’t replenished and the tree/shrub’s growth will be stunted which can affect overall health. The stress caused by Powdery Mildew will also make the tree more susceptible to other diseases and insect infestations.

How To Treat Powdery Mildew?

Luckily Powdery Mildew can be treated by a Certified Arborist with fungicide treatments. If you think your trees or plants have Powdery Mildew schedule an appointment with one of our Certified Arborists to receive a customized treatment plan for your tree.

How To Prevent Powdery Mildew?

If your trees don’t already have Powdery Mildew you can prevent the fungus by following the tips below!

  • When purchasing a new tree or plant make sure they are Powdery Mildew resistant such as Cherokee Brave Dogwoods.
  • Plant susceptible trees and shrubs in full sun.
  • Water susceptible plants from below. Use drip lines or hoses instead of sprinklers that wet the plant’s leaves.
  • Rake all leaves and remove them from the property so fungus and diseases don’t overwinter in the leave piles and re-infect your trees/shrubs next spring.

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Google Reviews

Grey Burkhart
Grey Burkhart
March 29, 2022.
Verified
Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.
Dennis Bruns
Dennis Bruns
March 8, 2022.
Verified
We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.
Annette Iannucci
Annette Iannucci
February 23, 2022.
Verified
We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.
Susan Crawford
Susan Crawford
January 26, 2022.
Verified
RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.
Kenton Morgan
Kenton Morgan
January 20, 2022.
Verified
Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.
Jean Kluttz
Jean Kluttz
January 3, 2022.
Verified
Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.
Jerry Haggin
Jerry Haggin
December 16, 2021.
Verified
Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.
Mike Iger
Mike Iger
December 16, 2021.
Verified
David Roberts
David Roberts
December 15, 2021.
Verified
We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.
Travis Larson
Travis Larson
December 10, 2021.
Verified
RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.
Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 185 reviews.

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