It’s still happening in the fall. 2024 has been the year for the disease for the crape myrtles. It is called powdery mildew. This is a common problem, but this year powdery mildew has been rampant and has been treated several times to get results. It is known by the gray fungus that coats the plants.  

One way to try to get rid of the mildew is to wash it off, but that is not the best or the most effective. You can spray with a fungicide, liquid systemic fungicide put out by Fertilome, is a recommended choice of chemical. Use 3 Tablespoons per gallon of water to mix. Apply every 21 days. Apply to the point of runoff. This product is also good for other diseases, including fruit tree disease. Liquid Systemic Fungicide has a fairly new chemical, Propiconazole. It is good to look for the new chemicals because the companies that make this product have spent a lot of hours developing them.

In my reading, one of the best new products is Fertilome Tree and Shrub drench. The chemical is Imidaclprid. It is much easier than spraying. It is systemic protection for the plants. Just mix 3 oz. of Tree and Shrub drench per foot height of tree or shrub to 1 gallon of water. Pour this around the base of the plant. No mixing of spray and carrying around that heavy sprayer. The plant takes it up through the roots and uses it throughout the tree. Imidaclprid is one of the newest chemicals around and it is so easy to use. I recommend it highly.  

(Mitzi Thomas owns Minden Farm & Garden LLC. Watch for her column on Fridays in Webster Parish Journal.)