QuestionMy Golden Chain tree leaves have brown spots on them does that mean that it is dieased and can I spray it with some thing to give it a fix
AnswerThese are called leaf spot fungi the one most common on Chain tree is Cercospora. Circular to angular, small to large, gray or brown spots with dark margins. Some spots may drop out, leaving ragged shot-holes. The spots may be numerous and cause the leaf to turn brown and fall prematurely. Spray applications to control diseases caused by species of Cercospora are rarely, if ever, needed. The spots do not really cause any health problems for the tree but may cause the leaves to drop sooner than normal. To control this spot fungi you would need to start spraying a fungicide as soon as the leaves budded out in the spring and continue at intervals of about two weeks for a couple of months. One way to cut down the amount of spores for the next year is rake the leaves and move them from the site. IF you do spray which I do not recommend some recommended fungicides for control of leaf spot diseases are: chlorothalonil (Daconil 2787 or Bravo), fixed coppers, mancozeb, maneb and zineb.