What is this black stuff growing on my plants? (insects, south, leaves)

[oeabel]

Does anyone know what this black fungus-looking stuff growing on our shrubs is? It is taking over the plants in the front of our house and just moving up the plants. If I dig the plants out will it take over the new ones?

Thanks for your help!

[cynwldkat]

If it's the same thing I had a problem with I just cut off the branches and or leaves that had the "black spots" on them and tossed them away. The new growth didn't have the black spots on them. It seemed very contagious so I was very sure to get every bit of it off!!!

[SouthernBelle3]

Originally Posted by oeabel

Does anyone know what this black fungus-looking stuff growing on our shrubs is? It is taking over the plants in the front of our house and just moving up the plants. If I dig the plants out will it take over the new ones?

Thanks for your help!

Sooty mold is a fungus that grows on the excretion,honeydew, of piercing sucking insects such as scale. You need to identify the insect causing the problem. Take some of the branches and leaves to your local county extension agent and they can id the insect. It may be treatable with soap and oils and you can still salvage your shrubs. You could dig up the plants, but if it is on your woody shrubs, it may move to other plants in your yard.

[cynwldkat]

Would that be on house plants as well? Never saw any insects on them at all. But every so often I would get black spots on many of the leaves. I just removed any and all leaves that had the black spots and the plants would be fine--until the next time-maybe a year down the road.

[SouthernBelle3]

Black spots on leaves can be caused by other fungal or bacterial diseases, as well as overwatering.

[Karla with a K]

great post southernbelle3

First thing i though Is she a master gardener ? if not you need to look into becoming one