Chinese Elm with sticky leaves and white spots

Messages
121
Reaction score
56
Location
Roseville, CA
USDA Zone
9b
One of my two Chinese Elms has developed, as the title says, leaves that are sticky and glossy on top, and that have white spots scattered about over the undersides and some on the top. Otherwise, the tree looks healthy. The other photos show how we have our trees on the balcony rail of our apartment. The tree with the problem is on the right.
 

Attachments

  • Elm 1.jpg
    Elm 1.jpg
    186.5 KB · Views: 40
  • Elm 2.jpg
    Elm 2.jpg
    182.7 KB · Views: 40
  • 20210814_065256.jpg
    20210814_065256.jpg
    188.7 KB · Views: 33
  • 20210814_065309.jpg
    20210814_065309.jpg
    147.3 KB · Views: 30
  • 20210814_065317.jpg
    20210814_065317.jpg
    147.5 KB · Views: 26
  • 20210814_065323.jpg
    20210814_065323.jpg
    253.4 KB · Views: 40

penumbra

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
9,380
Reaction score
15,848
Location
Front Royal, VA
USDA Zone
6
Looks like aphids. Spray with appropriate solution.
 
Messages
121
Reaction score
56
Location
Roseville, CA
USDA Zone
9b
Can you or anyone here recommend a solution? It looks as if dish detergent and water spray is the most commonly used.
 
Last edited:

penumbra

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
9,380
Reaction score
15,848
Location
Front Royal, VA
USDA Zone
6
Can you or anyone here recommend a solution? It looks as if dish detergent and water spray is the most commonly used.
It is effective only if you keep after it. Soap will need applying frequently. There are a lot of more effective things that can be found in most Garden Centers.
 

LanceMac10

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
6,798
Reaction score
17,176
Location
Nashua, NH U.S.A.
USDA Zone
5
I've been pretty lucky to not have many insect problems, ('cept scale on figs!), but I have success with this product. Yeah, it's the depot, see if any local garden centers carry before trundling of to "The Big Top"

 

Firstflush

Chumono
Messages
982
Reaction score
1,135
Location
NW Montucky
USDA Zone
3-4
Maybe some white fly on the tree too. Brush and bump the foliage. If you see white bugs flutter off the tree you have white fly in addition to aphids.

To your proposed mix, add a little cooking oil. Only spay in the evening when the sun is setting so you don’t burn the foliage. Before you spray, hose down the tree first and you will likely take care of a big percentage of the infestation.
 

Leo in N E Illinois

The Professor
Messages
11,337
Reaction score
23,254
Location
on the IL-WI border, a mile from ''da Lake''
USDA Zone
5b
I would probably stop at a big box garden center and pick up a spray with Pyrethrums in it. If you have "Rose Spray", you can use that. There are insecticide sprays for roses that work well, apply to trees while they are outside. Don't spray in the house.
 

penumbra

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
9,380
Reaction score
15,848
Location
Front Royal, VA
USDA Zone
6
Sevin has been used for several decades for chewing insects like beetles but is not terribly effective for sucking insects. You will probably obtain contact kill.
 

penumbra

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
9,380
Reaction score
15,848
Location
Front Royal, VA
USDA Zone
6
I go go with Leo on this all day. Get a product with Pyrethrums in it.
Sevin is a great product and you could get good control by contact, but it is for chewing insects. Knocks beetles down fast. I use it every year one time when Japanese beetles are active among us.
 

Firstflush

Chumono
Messages
982
Reaction score
1,135
Location
NW Montucky
USDA Zone
3-4
Pyrethrums, as stated above, will take care of your problem. If you can get a pyrethrum spray with soap and/or an oil all the better. If there is soap in a product, you will see “fatty acids” somewhere on the label.
 
Messages
121
Reaction score
56
Location
Roseville, CA
USDA Zone
9b
It has now dropped about 5 or 6 of the affected leaves. Is that normal, or do I have more problems?
 
Top Bottom