I'll be the first to admit, I hate doing yard work. Mowing isn't a problem, it's edging and weeding I can't stand. Anyway... 1. I have some hedges in the front of my house. I can't tell you the name. The leaves are dark green and waxy and have a tiny point to them. They've become dark and dirty looking, almost like soot. Also, they have white specks on them. Are both related and how do I take care of them? 2. What do you use as fertilizer for shrubs and trees? The same stuff you put out in your yard? I've lived in my house close to 4 years now and I don't seem to be getting much growth from the bushes. I applied my lawn fertilizer today in the hopes of getting rain tonight and tomorrow.
Welcome to the world of fungus... powdery mildew - usually coming in late summer, early fall when the days are warm, the nights begin to get cooler. It can also be caused by being to damp all the time with no air circulation FYI on powdery mildew below.. http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/LARIMER/mg020713.htm All you need to know is Osmocote.. This stuff really kicks ass... It's a hard fertilizer that you place under the soil.. In late spring I always do my weeding and dig a small hole (about the size of a fist) next to the plant I'm feeding and drop a handful of Osmocote down.. It depends on how often you plan on feeding but you can buy the stuff for different applications.. (Hi Start-front end feeding, Standard-constant feeding through the year, Lo Start- Less food up front more toward the end) If I were you I'd go with the Classic and feed lightly this year, so you don’t burn any thing make sure to water well.. Osmocote is very pricy, but it gets the job done and you only need to do it once a year.. Osmocote link below... Link Make sure to water well or you're going to end up with a toasty lawn for the summer.. Good luck..
Thanks for the links. I used to use Affordable Lawn Care's service until I found out it wasn't as affordable as I would have liked.
Are you sure this is the same thing that I have? The stuff on my leaves is black like soot, not white and powdery.
unless you can post a pic you might want to take a few leaves to your local nursery and see what they have to say about it..
