Japanese Ligustrum leaf spots

All 4 of my Japanese Ligustrums have that fungal disease that causes yellow and brown leaf spots. From 30% to 70% of the leaves that are left on each shrub are affected. Leaves are quite thinned out. Is it too late to save them?

If not, I know I need to:
a) spray them with a fungal treatment (any suggestions?)
b) clean up leaf litter

What else? I noticed they are getting new growth. Should I fertilize? (It's abt 2 1/2 - 3 mos. till our first frost.) I don't water overhead. In fact, until a couple of weeks ago they have subsisted on rain for the last 5 years. I need to take better care of them in general.

Any help appreciated!

Can anyone help? I just want to know if they are too far gone or if it would be worth the effort to try to save them. And if there is a particular fungal spray that has worked well for most.

Thanks in advance for sharing any experience with this.

Hang in there Firstyard, sometimes the threads aren't terribly active on the weekends in summer. I'd remove the affected leaves and leaf litter, put them in a bag and dispose of them. Somebody will surely come to your rescue. You also may try to post this on the Fruit forum, there are a few experts there too that can help with fungal diseases.

Thanks so much!

You're welcome...good luck!

FY, if I were you...
I'd take a leaf sample to your local Extension Office. They would know exactly what fungal infection you're dealing with and consequently the best fungicide application specifically targeting the affliction.

Here is a good info site;
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/ligustrum-marginal-leaf-spotting-23540.html

Great article! I was trying to take the easy way out and not go to the extension office but I guess I'm not going to get away with it. I need to take soil samples for testing anyway.

Thanks for the help!!

I hear ya...I'm guilty, we all would prefer the easy way out. Somehow if the fight isn't challenging the victory isn't as sweet...

I wish I could have helped more but, you're very welcome.

Went to extension agent last week and she said I've got a lot of intensive, painstaking work in front of me to save these shrubs. Might be expensive, too.

Not sure I want to invest so much time in them. Also, probably cheaper to cut down and replace. Will have to decide.

But thanks again for the suggestion. Now I know where the ext. office is and I know the agent. She was very helpful.

Did they tell you what disease it is?
I have found that plants which require "intensive, painstaking work" are generally not worth it ;)

Was it a virus? If it were me, since there's no guarantee a painstaking, expensive treatment would work, I'd cut them down and plant something less susceptible.

Thanks for updating me, that sure was appreciated. Good luck with outcome, whichever direction you choose to go.

It was cercospora leaf spot. I'm hoping there is now a cultivar that is resistant. Haven't looked into it yet tho.

Thanks, that's good to know.