I Have Planted Several Annual Plants In My Garden But They Are Not Doing Well. What Could Be Wrong with Them?

Are the leaves on your plants stippled with yellow and the foliage is webbed?

Are the leaves on your plants completely yellow and is the plant weakened?

Do the leaves on your plants have large, ragged holes?

Do the leaves on your plants have a black coating?

Do the leaves on your plants have white, powdery patches?

Are the leaves on your plants greenish-yellow, and is the growth poor?

Are the leaves on your plants spotted and the buds are wilted and dark?

Are the leaves on your plants rolled?

Are the leaves, stems, and buds on your plant distorted?

Do the leaves and stems of your plant have white, cottony clusters on them?

Are the seedlings or cut off at soil level?

Yellow flecks on leaves and webbed foliage are caused by spider mites. These tiny, spider-like pests feed by sucking sap from the underside of the plants leaves, causing yellow flecking on the upper leaf surfaces. You can control spider mites by spraying plants thoroughly with water 2-3 times a day for several days. For severe infestations, spray the plant with insecticidal soap, or pyrethrin as a last resort.

Yellow leaves and weakened plants are caused by whiteflies. These tiny, mothlike flies and their larvae feed by sucking plant juices. Whiteflies secrete honeydew, a sugary, sticky substance. Control whiteflies by eliminating garden weeds and by introducing green lacewings in the garden. Spray infested plants with insecticidal soap every 3 days for 2 weeks.

Holes in the leaves are caused by slugs and snails. They feed on the plant leaves, usually at night. To control slugs and snails use diatomaceous earth around your plants. You can also handpick them during the night or use shallow dishes filled with beer as a trap.

Black coating on the leaves is caused by a fungus sooty mold. This fungus grows on honeydew produced by whiteflies, aphids, scales or mealybugs. Sooty mold is best controlled by dealing with the insects that are producing honeydew. Remove honeydew and sooty mold from the leaves by wiping it with the damp cloth.

White, powdery patches on the leaves are caused by a fungus Powdery mildew. Powdery mildew usually appears in damp places. Encourage good air circulation around the affected plants by thining any surrounding plants. Water plants from bellow to keep foliage dry.

Greenish yellow leaves followed by a poor growth is caused by Aster yellows disease. This disease is transferred by insects leafhoppers. There is no cure for Aster yellows, so the affected plants should be destroyed. Prevent the disease by controlling leafhoppers. Spray the plants with the insecticidal soap 3 times, once every 3 days.

Spotted leaves and dark, wilted buds are caused by tarnished plant bugs. These insects have yellow, black and red marks on their wings. Control them by picking them off if the infestation isn't severe or use pyrethrin as a last resort.

Rolled leaves are caused by leafrollers. These green caterpillars with brown heads feed on the enclosed leaves and buds. If the infestation isn't severe, pick the caterpillars off the leaves. For severe infestations, use insecticides.

Distorted leaves, stems and buds are caused by aphids. These tiny insects can vary in color: green, pink, black, gray or white. They cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Introducing their natural predators will keep their number low.

White, cottony clusters on leaves and stems are caused by mealybugs. These tiny insects are covered with a fluffy white coating. They feed by sucking plants sap. They produce sticky substance honeydew which makes leaves sticky. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

If the seedlings of your plants are cut off at the soil level, the most likely cause is cutworms. These brown or gray caterpillars can be 1-2 inches long, and they feed at night by cutting off young plants and sometimes eating them whole. During the day, they are hidden below the soil surface. Control them by introducing parasitic nematodes to the ground.

If your seedlings are dying, the most likely cause is damping-off disease. Damping-off is caused by various soil fungi. Damaged seedlings can't be healed so the best course of action is to remove them. To prevent damping-off, let the soil surface dry between waterings and thin the seedlings to avoid overcrowding.