Disease?

Hi all:

I have a very distressing situation. A tree down the alley behind my house started getting this stuff that looks like splashes of white paint that someone has tried to wipe off. Soon the leaves were brown and curling. That was 3 years ago.
Last year my maple tree started having this stuff, and this fall it has spread to some plants in all my garden areas. I foolishly didn't find out about the tree, since I thought it was just a 'tree thing' and would be confined to that.

I have no idea what it is - nor do I have any idea what the type of people who can diagnose and treat these kinds of things are called. Or how expensive they might be.

It seems to be spreading around the neighbourhood, and is destroying a small rosebush I have been trying to get started between my front stairs and my neighbour's.

Does anyone know what this thing is, or who I would call to get it 'fixed' - and how I find out if I can (legally) request that my neighbours treat their plants and trees too? Is there anything I can do myself to treat this?

I just did my fall yard cleaning today, and am about ready to sit down and weep about this situation.

Thanks for any suggestions or education.

I will post 4 photos.
~marilyn

this is the tree that started it all I think - but it seems to be much better than it was 2 yrs ago.

Another picture of a different area of my maple tree.

The poor little rosebush.

Yikes, it looks just like the stuff on my neighbors roses and she says it's mildew of some sort.
I looked it up and this is one link I found. Hope it could be helpful.
http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/plantdisease/g979.htm#cause


Erynne

Hi Erynne:

I read that, and it sure seems like that's what it is. Thanks for that information.

But does this mildew grow on huge trees too? And how do you spray a fungicide on something that's 40 feet tall?

Now that I have a lead, I'm going to spend the evening 'googling'.

~marilyn

you can also check your local university agriculture's dept, or botony dept. and see if they want/will do a Diagnosis on it fo ryou.

Well, from what I'm reading, it looks as if I can't use my leaves for compost, gotta get rid of them all. Boo-hoo!

Apparently, on the trees, that alone (getting rid of all fallen leaves) may fix the problem.

But I may have to spray the rose. Poor little thing may have a chance yet :-))

~m

From the looks of it you've got powdery mildew.
It's very unsightly but usually not fatal to plants.
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0800/powdery_mildews.asp

Thanks all, for the help.

I think I have a handle on it now.

http://www.cfl.scf.rncan.gc.ca/imfoc-idwcf/fichemaladie_e.asp?id=1000072