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soot
Debby
Posts: 6
I appear to have a black sooty film on my bay tree on about 30 per cent of the leaves, can anyone tell me what this is, how to get rid of it, and what causes it, thanks
0
Posts
A light spray with diluted washing up liquid will help.
Frankly with all the rain we've had the sooty mould would have washed off if it was going to.
The introduction of insects is impractical for most gardeners. They are either there or not and probably not at this time of year.
If you really want to get rid of it - it will harm the bay - you will have to take more drastic action. But if the bush is small and the weather sunny, you can sit down and wipe off the critters on the undersides of the leaves with warm water and washing up liquid.
It all depends on whether you are a chemical-user or not.
Don't know about yours, but my bay grows at a scary rate once it gets going in the spring.
I cut a couple of 12' bays back severely last spring. They soon shot back up, so maybe try some hard pruning and a mulch.
If the underside of the leaves have small brown bumps on them (often with a little bit of white 'fluff' at the base) then it's likely scale insects.
When I get an attack of such things - I'll whisper the next bit - I go buy some spray from B&Q - food safe if you intend using for cooking. I do use it responsibly of course.
Good luck
Pete
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.