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So I have several hostas that are looking brown and starting to wilt. Way too early for this and they have been watered and cared for. We did have a hail storm that tore up a lot of them but they are still growing away with all the holes and rips, but not turning brown. Is this a rust disease? Or just? Dying?
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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I haven't seen that and we have about 50 hostas. I have seen some around turning yellow then brown due to people planting them in the sun. That would normally affect all of the leaves. Ours are on the north side of the 2 story house and thrive without ever getting any sun at all. Even when the deer and rabbits much off hunks of the leaves they stay nice and green. Yours looks like an infestation of Anthracnose. I would cut off any infected leaves, and throw in the trash. Do not water with a sprinkler, just water the soil and keep the leaves dry. You might look for a local master gardener at a farmers market or other event and take a leaf to ask them for advice.
I looked up folia neatodes from both Minnesota and Wisconsin agriculture extension departments. MN said to just throw away the leaves. WI said no treatment exists and to dig up plant and surrounding dirt, bag and throw away, disinfect tools.
Wonder why they have such different advice.
I wonder if this is what is on the phlox too. Phlox came over from next door and invaded my back yard island garden.
I had a similar problem for several summers in one of the driveway flower beds, about a 5' x 2' space. Last fall, I cleaned it out (all plants and weeds), including the top two inches of soil. I also found grubs, which I tossed into a jar of rubbing alcohol to kill them.
I used the old soil to fill in a low spot in the back of my property that is mostly rock and bought several bags of new dirt and re-filled the driveway bed and raked it smooth. This spring, I worked in a little "clean" compost (no weed seeds) and got several new hostas from a decent local nursery, so they weren't carrying any diseases.
So far, no more problems! Granted, it has been in the 90s and I'm watering a little more than usual, but the plants aren't half-dead as they have been.
I think I had multiple problems, but this extreme clean-out seems to be working.
I looked up folia neatodes from both Minnesota and Wisconsin agriculture extension departments. MN said to just throw away the leaves. WI said no treatment exists and to dig up plant and surrounding dirt, bag and throw away, disinfect tools.
Wonder why they have such different advice.
I wonder if this is what is on the phlox too. Phlox came over from next door and invaded my back yard island garden.
Well,the phlox looks like powdery mildew.
If it's spreading among neighbors, maybe you have a friendly extension agent in your area who will come by and take a look a couple of gardens.
Whew, have to take out all the phlox, don't like them anyway...
Thanks for the advice!
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