Question
Recently our otherwise healty crepe myrtle seems to have turned black with some type of fungus??????????  Even the ground under the bush has turned black.  I am not sure if this is due to a fungus or an insect.  I did spray it with Seven a couple of weeks ago, but it didn't seem to help.  All of our other crepes which are about 75 to 100 feet away seem to be doing fine.

Any ideas or suggestions.  

Thank you

Don Clickner


Answer
Don:

See this publication about Sooty Mold----http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/PDF/FSA-7555.pdf

As you will read, this black stuff results from insects.  It make take a bit of time before it dries up and washes off the plant. You might be able to speed it up a little using a very dilute soapy solution, let set, then rinse with clear water.

Hope this helps.

Steve