Have you ever noticed small spots appearing on the foliage of your Indian Hawthornes? If you have, don’t ignore them. That’s actually a fungus called…leaf spot.
This fungus starts as small brownish spots that may appear to have a ring around them. Infected leaves will then change from green to yellow or red, and eventually drop altogether. If left unchecked, leaf spot will eventually kill the plant. Leaf spot thrives off of new growth and wet conditions, so Spring is when your Hawthornes are most at risk.
Leaf spot will spread like a wildfire, so if you see it on one Hawthorne, you will likely see it an all of your Hawthornes. It must be dealt with quickly to prevent further damage. If you can catch it early on, simply removing the infected leaves (as well as any leaves that have dropped) and discarding of them is all it takes to deal with leaf spot. More severe cases, however, will require a fungicide application.
Check your Hawthornes!