Anthracnose

Garden Problems

Anthracnose is a group of related fungal diseases that typically cause dark lesions on leaves of a variety of shrubs and trees.

Identify the problem
Anthracnose is difficult to identify because the symptoms vary by plant host and weather conditions. Small beige, brown, black, or black spots appear on infected twigs. Cankers can form on the trunks and branches of trees. Dead areas on leaves can be more irregular on some hosts and have yellow halos. Very young leaves can become curled and distorted with only a portion of each leaf dying.
How to solve the problem
- Prune and destroy or bury infected leaves, twigs, and branches during fall or winter. Clear away leaf litter and dead material.
- Thoroughly spray all new growth as buds begin to open in spring with PLANThealth Liquid Copper as a preventative.