WSU Extension

Hortsense

Cedar
 
Disease
Cedar flagging 
Leaf blight 
Port Orford cedar root rot 
Seiridium canker 



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Caption: Arborvitae Didymascella leaf blight
Photo by: R.S. Byther
  
Cedar : Leaf blight
(revision date: 4/11/2018)


Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful plant problem management.

Biology
Leaf blight is a fungal disease. The symptoms typically appear first in late spring as bleached spots followed by brown or black cushion-like fungal fruiting bodies. Infected foliage may be anywhere on the plant. Individual leaves are killed by the fungus and turn a light tan to gray color. As the fruiting bodies drop out of the leaves, deep pits are left in the dead tissue. The infected tissues often have a "scorched" appearance. Infected leaves often drop in the fall. Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is most commonly infected, particularly the cultivars 'Atrovirens' and 'Excelsa'. A similar disease attacks junipers.
Management Options


Non-Chemical Management
  • Avoid overhead watering. Leaf blight is favored by moist foliage conditions.
  • Plant resistant cultivars.
  • Space plants and prune to allow good air circulation.
Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

Chemical Management
IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides

Apply in spring and early summer. Use Monterey Liqui-Cop Fungicidal Garden Spray on Eastern red cedar only. Homeowners should not make foliar applications to trees over 10 ft tall. Consult a commercial pesticide applicator for treatment of trees and shrubs over 10 ft. tall.

Listed below are examples of pesticides that are legal in Washington. Always read and follow all label directions.
  • Monterey Liqui-Cop Copper Fungicidal Garden Spray
    Active ingredient: copper-ammonia complex  |  EPA reg no: 54705-7
  • This list may not include all products registered for this use.
Images

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Caption: Arborvitae Didymascella leaf blight
Photo by: R.S. Byther
Caption: Arborvitae Didymascella leaf blight close-up
Photo by: R.S. Byther