Acuba Japonica

Morning all,

Keen experienced Gardener here and coming to you all for some help.

I have a well established Acuba hedge out the front of my house..

I've noticed quite a few of the leaves have a black coating on them, the leave itself if fine underneath and you can rub the coating off.

I've googled the hell out of it and can only find information on leaves that have sagged and died that you get from overwatering or scorch in the summer but I can't find anything on this this!!

It almost looks as if they've been covered with soot or mud from the soil..

Any advice would be appreciated.

Many thanks

Mark

 

It's probably sooty mould.
Did it get infested with aphids or scale insect last summer.
They secret honey dew and the black mould grows on the sticky deposit.

 

I didn't notice any infestation, I did cut it back hard last spring as it was over grown.

How do I treat this?? I was going to cut it back hard again at the end of march..

I've use neem oil before on euonymus..

Many thanks

 

First you need to I'd the pest.
I don't use neem oil but would use a systemic insecticide during mid summer.
The black mould should just wash off.