Question
I have had my crape myrtle trees for about 4 years. Last year one of them started getting black powder stuff with tiny white fuzz looking stuff on it. Well this year both trees in my front flower bed is covered with it and its spreading to my shrubs. What can i do to kill the disease?


Answer
Hi Becky, that is the problem with crape myrtles, they get black sooty mold over them.  You could spray with an insecticidal and fungal spray, like Pure Neem Oil, which will not wash off.
It will help, but the good part is fall is coming and all the ugly leaves will fall off and it will look good again in the spring.  Spray the plants around the crapes with Neem and it will help keep it off of them too.