Question
QUESTION: Hi THere,

I have a mature acoma crape myrtle that was "murdered" for a few years before I stopped the lawn company and this is the second year that it had not been pruned. The tree started greening up on schedule and was very healthy dark green as it should be.  Then some of the new growth started dying from the tip back, all over the tree, not just one area, looked like juices were sucked out because the leaves would flatten and slowly brown.  There aren't any aphids on the tree(besides it is too early anyway) I looked everywhere and only found a moth, two stink bugs mating, five of these six-legged white fuzzy spider looking bugs that had a flip tail(strange but cute) didn't bite and didn't see any excrement on tree.  There are a few ants traveling up and down but not an excessive amount. I pruned the old seedheads and the dead wood out two weeks ago.  New growth is appearing but still had to cut out some dead spots today.  And today I did find a worm inside a dead leaf on top of a live leaf, he was making himself a cacoon like a leafroller.  Very small and very active, when I pulled the leaves apart, he was moving around and trying to hide.  I cannot find anything that will damage crapes other than aphids so what in the world is this thing and is this what is killing off the branches? I only found one?  I have inspected this tree upside down for two months now and just cannot figure out what is causing this damage.  It is almost like a twigborer or looks a little like witches broom??  Any ideas?  Thank you,  Teresa

ANSWER: Hi Teresa..I did a little checking on this as I do not live in your area but this made sense to me and I think to you too
Tree/shrub Tops Blacken, Die Back In Spring means Cold Weather
In some northern areas crape myrtles are victims of cold snaps which kill their tops. Their roots are generally cold hardy, however, so simply prune off the dead material early in the spring before growth starts. The plant will sprout new growth and bloom on schedule.

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QUESTION: Interesting, after the Spring growth started, I do think we had a 40's cold snap but never thought that could be it.  I will keep an eye on it, thanks!  Also, I don't use poison on anything, if it dies it dies, but I would like to know why if it does! Oh well! Thank you!


Answer
Hi again..if it is still happening I would consider that you maybe overwatering.  40 degrees is not cold, I do not know where you live so I have to guess like I stated above.  To be safe you could spray your tree with 100 per pure neem oil  which is a fungicide and a miticide, do not wash off and could protect your tree till winter when all the leaves fall off.  Only need to spray new growth if there is still a problem...Good luck