What Is Wrong With My Sassafras Plant?

Do the leaves have spots or blotches?

Are the leaves covered with white powder?

Does the trunk or the branches have oozing lesions?

Are the leaves yellowing, wilting and, dying?

Are the trees defoliated?

Are there any holes in leaves, spring buds have been eaten, brown blotches at leaf tips?

Do the leaves and flowers have holes?

Your plant is suffering from fungal leaf spot. These can come from several fungus diseases, causing spots to occur on foliage. Spots may enlarge rapidly, especially in wet weather. Destroy infected leaves or plants. Spray plants with sulfur to prevent the disease from spreading, especially if the weather is wet. Spray between rains. Prevent problems by thinning plants to provide good air circulation.

White, powdery patches on the leaves are caused by a fungal disease Powdery mildew. Powdery mildew usually appears in damp places. Encourage good air circulation around the affected plants by thining them and any surrounding plants. Water plants from bellow to keep foliage dry. Any affected leaves should be cut off and removed. The appropriate fungicidal spray will protect your plant from further infections.

Oozing lesions are caused by cankers. Prune out and destroy dead branches and infested areas. Be sure to make pruning cuts at least 3 or 4 inches below the canker and disinfect pruners between cuts. Spray both the healthy and diseased sections of a tree with copper during and shortly after periods of excessive rain.

Yellow leaves that wilt and die usually indicate Root rot. Several pathogens can be the cause of root rots. Poorly drained, overly wet soil promotes rot so choose well-drained sites and add organic matter to improve drainage. Remove and destroy infected plants.

Gypsy moth caterpillars sometimes mass on hickory foliage and devour it, defoliating the tree. The tree may die after repeated defoliation. Mature caterpillars have 5 pairs of blue spots and 6 pairs of red spots along the back. In light infestations destroy eggs or pick caterpillars by hand, in more severe cases spray plants with BTK or pyrethrin as the last resort.

Sassafras weevils are beetles about 1/4 inch long. They vary in color from light to dark brown, with striations on the wing covers. When startled while feeding, they will drop suddenly to the ground. Disturb tree branches and catch the dropping weevils in a cloth spread on the ground underneath the tree.

Holes in leaves and flowers are caused by Japanese beetles. Adults of these insects devour leaves, stalks, and flowers of nearly 300 plant species. Their larvae feed on the roots of the plants. Handpick adult beetles into a can of soapy water but make sure to wear gloves as Japanese beetles are blister beetles. Apply parasitic nematodes to the soil to limit beetle grub populations. Use pyrethrin powder or neem oil as a last resort.

If the leaves are covered with small bumps the culprits are scales. These tiny, shelled insects often feed on the undersides of the leaves, causing an unhealthy appearance. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying insecticidal oil during the growing season.