Azalea Rust?

I'm not even sure if it's an Azalea or a Rhododendron but I guess that's neither here or there...

Is this disease rust? And what's the best way to treat it?

 

Hi Dave.

Whether your Rhododendron has rust or some other fungal infection, the treatment is the same. You need to remove the leaves and burn them (do not compost) or throw them in the rubbish bin. Make sure you remove all the leaves which have dropped as well as the spores will spread if you don't.

Give it a spray with a fungicide (such as Fungus Fighter), ensuring that you spray all over including under the leaves.

 

Thanks very much. I looked at it again last night and it appears that the vast majority of the leaves are diseased. Will removing all the leaves, or the large majority of them, cause problems?