Diagnostics

Woody Ornamentals-Deciduous-Shrub

Barberry (Berberis)

  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.

Blue mist spirea (Caryopteris)

  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.

Butterfly bush (Buddleia)

  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Cylindrocladium species)
    Root infections are characterized by many dark brown to black lesions often with longitudinal cracks. Severe root disease leads to stunting, wilting, yellowing and death. Stem infections of both conifers and broadleaves arise at the leaf bases and may girdle small stems. Diseased conifer needles turn yellow or red-brown. Dark lesions form in the leaves of broadleaf plants. Leaf blight leads to defoliation.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.

Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster)

  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Root rot (Fusarium species (W))
    Symptoms include stunting, chlorosis, root necrosis and death of woody plants. Symptoms are dependent on cultural practices and the local environment.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Phytophthora species (W))
    Gardeners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggestareardenersadners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggesting a nutrient deficiency. Examination of the roots of these plants reveals tissue that is soft and brown.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Rhizoctonia species (W))
    Symptoms on the above ground parts of larger plants include necrotic spots and blotches on the leaves, shoot blight and dieback.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.

Dogwood (Cornus)

  • Armored scale (Diaspididae family)
    Armored scales are oval, somewhat elongate (think oyster shell), small (1/20-1/8") insects that secrete a hard, waxy cover. During the adult stage, no body parts are visible except the cover. Eggs are laid under the cover and hatch into crawlers, which can move around and are susceptible to sprays and oils.
  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Root rot (Fusarium species (W))
    Symptoms include stunting, chlorosis, root necrosis and death of woody plants. Symptoms are dependent on cultural practices and the local environment.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Cylindrocladium species)
    Root infections are characterized by many dark brown to black lesions often with longitudinal cracks. Severe root disease leads to stunting, wilting, yellowing and death. Stem infections of both conifers and broadleaves arise at the leaf bases and may girdle small stems. Diseased conifer needles turn yellow or red-brown. Dark lesions form in the leaves of broadleaf plants. Leaf blight leads to defoliation.
  • Root rot (woody plants) (Phytophthora species (W))
    Gardeners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggestareardenersadners often become aware of root rot problems when they see above ground symptoms of the disease. Plants with root rot are often stunted or wilted, and may have leaves with a yellow or red color, suggesting a nutrient deficiency. Examination of the roots of these plants reveals tissue that is soft and brown.
  • Soft scale (Coccidae family)
    Soft scales are usually broadly oval becoming larger and more humped as eggs mature underneath the protective cover. Look for adults on twigs or small branches and immature stages on leaves or needles.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.

Quince (Chaenomeles)

  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.

Smoketree (Cotinus)

  • Herbicide Damage ()
    Herbicides can damage any type of plant and injury usually happens as a result of drift, careless application or evaporation during hot weather. Symptoms of herbicide injury may include: twisted plant stems; stem fasciation; narrow, curling or leathery leaves; or excessive callus formation on roots and stems along with secondary root growth. At extremely low application rates, broadleaf herbicides such as 2,4-D, MCPP or dicamba usually will not kill plants, although they will act as growth regulators.
  • Sooty molds (Several)
    Sooty molds are dark fungi that grow on plant surfaces covered in honeydew excreted by insects with piercing/sucking mouth parts such as aphids, scale, mealybugs and whiteflies. It is generally harmless to plants, except when it is prolific, preventing light from reaching leaf surfaces, causing plants stress. This stress may make the plant more susceptible to other diseases or problems.

© 2013 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, doing business as the Division of Cooperative Extension of the University of Wisconsin-Extension. If you have any questions regarding this site's contents, trouble accessing any information on this site, require this information in an alternative format or would like to request a reasonable accommodation because of a disability email: greenindustry@ces.uwex.edu