afflicted phlox - in bed with echinacea on right

closeup of afflicted phlox

afflicted echinacea

?afflicted veronica in nearby bed

Unfortunately do not have any pix of the afflicted Husker Red penstemon.

Anybody know what is going on? Insects? If so, how do I treat thing quickly before they decimate my garden beds?

ken

I am going to suggest that since it seems to be effecting so many different types of plants, it might be herbicide drift, either aerial or from a lawn application of weed and feed. Or something caused by sucking insects, either directly or something like aster yellows (though I am not sure if that effects penstemons.) These are just guesses.

any chance at FREEZE damage ... i had a freeze 5 days ago.. and just now.. seeing weird things ..

ken

Have you ever had your soil tested?

Your first line of defense is to pick off any leaves that have spots or have turned brown and dispose of them in the garbage. give good space between plants. When you water don't wet the plants because water on the leaves spreads the fungal spores. Get yourself a good fungal spray and spray often

Without pics though.......

Karen

Martha

It has been unseasonably cool and wet here. Maybe that's it. A couple of weeks ago I sprayed around with Roundup using a wand and being very careful to stay away from plants on a nonwindy day. Have done this years before and nothing like this ever happened. Am wondering, too, if it is fungus. Will try removing affected stalks/leaves and spray with fungicide although ? of its help. The next few days will be partly cloudy during the daytime and then showers starting around 4-5 p.m. and temps peaking then in high 70's even to low 80's. Not good weather for the poor plants.