(June) Four
weeks ago numerous branches on our eight year old crepe myrtle trees began to
sag to the ground. It appeared they were cut at the main branch. I removed them.
Two weeks later new growth appeared. Today there were a few more cut and there
was a white powder on several branches. I thought the cut was from some kind of
insect but with this white powder I'm wondering if this is fungus due to the wet
spring. How do I prevent more branches from falling?
We live on a lake and beavers like to chop off our crepe myrtle and dogwood trees at the ground. How do I repel beavers?
I think you have two separate problems--possibly beavers or other animals, possibly cutworms, cutting the stalks; and powdery mildew-- a disease, causing the white powdery growth. Powdery mildew is extremely common on crape myrtles and the high humidity and mild temperatures we are experiencing are the perfect conditions for the disease. Once the temperatures heat up, the disease will slow down. If it is just a little white growth on the lower, fast growing branches, ignore it. If it is covering the tree, you may want to spray with a fungicide. The disease would not cause the branches to droop or fall off. For animal control, protective barriers are the only thing I know that will really help, unless you have a good dog.