Mildew killing Honeysuckle

Hi all,
My Honeysuckle 'Halliana' has lost loads of its bottom leaves :eek: It's slowly creeping up the stems. After Googling discovered that it's probably suffering from mildew...some of the 'just about to be affected' leaves have got little grey powdery looking patches on them :confused: I've mulched it but there's no sign of it going away :( What should I do???

 

I found this on gardeners question time website if it's any help at all

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/gqt/fsheets/01_09_02/fsheetsq4.shtml

 

I also found this answer which is specific to your variety...

"I think that the problem here is powdery mildew a fungal disease that often attacks honeysuckle, particularly L. Halliana, when the roots begin to get dry.
The plant will grow new foliage and the best remedy is to keep the roots moist, by watering and mulching, and treat the foliage with a fungicide.
If you wish to use a fungicide Bio Systhane Fungus Fighter would be a good bet but you would need to repeat the dose to get the best effect."

 

Thanks Dizi

It's planted behind the compost bin which I'm hoping to move this weekend, so hopefully that'll help it too

Just off to Google Fungus Fighter

 

The weather was very dry in April, wet in May and continueing - but the ground was very dry to start with. I even have signs of powdery mildew on my roses, less to do with the weather now, as back then - prolly why the older leaves are affected.

Take off the affected leaves and give the plant a drench of water. You can spray, but I would be inclined to just picking off the affected bits, and ensuring its kept moist.

 

I have it on 4 shrubs, 2 of which are roses, picking the leaves off doesn't seem to be working so I'm going to go down the spraying route as I can't stand to see them looking so sad (that and the fact that they are going to end up bald if I keep picking the leaves off!!)

 

Thanks guys,
it's operation Honeysuckle this weekend....come hell or high water...which it probably will be if it doesn't stop flaming raining :D I'm going to hold back with the spray at the moment....was wondering if there's an organic alternative????

 

Do you have a Wyevale near you?? I went into one the other day and they had an organic option in with all the other sprays for mildew, it was a powder that you shake over the plant but I can't for the life of me remember what it was called...sorry

 

I have a variegated honeysuckle which used to be covered with mildew in summer. I asked about it on GC and Palustris told me about this problem of dry roots. Since then I have taken care to water it more and it has not shown any mildew this year.
It wasn't in a place where I would have expected it to be dry.

 

Dizi - thanks, will have a google for that

Liz - that's the same as mine! I wouldn't have thought it was dry there and it's been lashing down for weeks :rolleyes: But have been watering it since it started to look so poorly and have given it a good thick mulch out of the dalek, so fingers crossed. Don't think it'll look too handsome this Summer though :rolleyes:
Knowing me I'll over-water it now!! :rolleyes: :D

 

I wouldn't waste money on sprays it is seasonal depending when we get the dry and wet spells it will lose its leaves but will come back ok,I have had one that has good and bad years.