Crepe Myrtles Have Black On Limbs And Trunks And White Spots Covering

Question From: West Memphis, Arkansas, United States
Q: My crepe myrtles have black on limbs and trunk and on top of that it has white spots not solid white.

A: If this crepe is small take samples of the spotted leaves ( my guess is that is powdery mildew) and black on small branch to an independent garden center that sells these plants for an accurate diagnosis and control. The black may be tar spot. If it is, a large tree get an onsite inspection from a certified arborist. To find one in your area go to www.tcia.org and enter your zip code. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy