Yellow spotted Chinese Elm

[Homer911]

My Chinese Elm has produced yellowing spots on most of its leaves. Not sure what it is. There are no insects n the leaves either.

I was away for a week and my wife was watering my trees, could this be a lack of water?

[Kevin]

Hello Homer,

Obviously, i cannot be 100% sure - but to me, i definitely would rule out lack of water (trust issues?).

If it's not insect damage! I believe this would be a Fungal issue Homer from possibly too much water.

Kevin

[Andrew E]

Looks like deficiency rather than insect or dried out. Feed with a balanced fertiliser. Or you have a golden springtime variegation you weren't aware of!! Cheers

[Pearcy001]

How often do you feed Homer? If it's not lack of nutrients then maybe scale? You said there are no insects on the leaves but what about the trunk?

I was gifted a chinese elm a couple of months ago that was covered in scale, They were only really on the trunk and not on the leaves at all. Because they were zapping the nutrients the leaves went like this, before going a dull browny green. The lack of nutrients could be due to them? I found an 7mm long giant scale on it again today, think it's time I treated it with something heavy.

Good luck with the issue.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

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[Daluke]

It's Autumn mate. It might be preparing to shed its leaves.

[Homer911]

What does scale look like? I water every day but my other half missed a few days whilst i was away. Most of my maples have the tops all black leaves. Thinking its lack of water.

I normally feed every 7-12 days whenever i get around to it.

It hasn't had any feed for about 2 weeks but i fed it today and gave it a good soaking.

Lets see what happens....

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[Sno]

Maybe spider mite ,check under the leaf for mites ,tiny buggers .

[Daluke]

Look on the underside of the leaves - see if new buds are there.

I wouldn't worry - as I said, it looks like older larger leaves preparing to drop.

[shibui]

Google scale to find pics. They are small dome shells usually under the leaf or branch, often brown so hard to see unless you really look.
Also check mites. These are also very small, just big enough to see if you look really hard under the leaves. They also suck sap so can make yellow patches on leaves.
Pest oil or a systemic insecticide should get rid of either if they are the problem.

Does not look like typical autumn colour change to me but we are getting close to end of growing season which will end the problem for this year. Trouble is, some pests will overwinter on/ near your trees and be ready to start sucking in spring.

[treeman]

Maybe spider mite ,check under the leaf for mites ,tiny buggers .

Yes this is caused by mites.

[Homer911]

Cheers guys. Appriciate the input. Any recommendations on incecticides? Are there any specific incecticides for specific species or all round will do? Ive never used incecticides before.

The safet the better. I have kids around the garden.

Ta

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[Sno]

Natrasoap . Spray everything including surrounding trees . In Sydney I would spray at least 3 times, one week apart and then in spring as it starts to warm up again .

[Watto]

Two spider mite has been a bit of a baddie this year, and the recommended treatment is a product called maverick.