Question From: Kankakee, Illinois, United States
Q: Stems and leaves turn brown as if diving. Why?
It's not unusual for the lower stems of Phlox to become diseased. There is no way to repair the damage done at this late date. The time to act is before the plants show damage. Choosing cultivars that are disease resistant is a good beginning. . Now that the leaves are damaged remove and dispose of them in the trash. I would wear rubber gloves and clean my pruners with alcohol after use. Spraying the plants with a fungicide such as Serenade Garden Disease Control making sure to hit the undersides of the leaves. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy
