Question
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The leaves of my Muskogee Crape Myrtle's that I planted several weeks ago are turning yellow and looks like something has been eating on them but I don't see anything. I hope you can help. I don't want to lose it.
Thanks
AnswerThere is an insect eating the leaves looks like the feeding pattern of a caterpillar type. There are really few insects that feed on crept myrtle. Look real close on the under side of the leaves for a caterpillar-it does not take many to eat a lot of leaves. If you do not find any they maybe migrating back to the soil. If you do find caterpillars you can just pick them off a small tree and this will solve your problems or you can spray the foliage with an insecticide called Bt. Bt is only good for caterpillar type insects. If you do not find any then I would spray the foliage with liquid formulation of an insecticide called Sevin. This is an all around insecticide that will kill not only caterpillars but also beetle types-which will cover all the insects that feed on leaves.
sorry I can not tell you what insect is causing the problem but it can be treated.
The yellowing of the leaves maybe be just stress from the planting or too much or too little water. Water once a week with 1 inch of water (place a pan under the tree and turn the sprinkler on and when the pan has 1 inch of water in it stop). Also if you have not done so mulch around the tree with not more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch--do not pile it up on the trunk. Water only if it does not rain. Do not fertilize for the first year.
