What is wrong with my oregano?

Question: I have a small bed with oregano, thyme, and chives planted. The bed is alongside a patio. It gets a lot of sun, and the plants are crowded. Recently, the oregano leaves have developed these spots. Do the plants have thrips, fungus, or something else? Should I apply a treatment and move these plants to other locations? Throw them out? Thank you.

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 26, 2024, 1:03 PM EDT
response: I have two small herb gardens alongside a patio. They get full sun and are crowded. One contains thyme, oregano, and chives. The other has one huge sage plant with a little mint and thyme off to one side. Both the oregano and the sage have white/yellow spots. From research I have done so far, I think the oregano has thrips, but I'm not sure. I have seem tiny insects jumping on the sage. Can anyone advise me as to the likely problem(s) and solutions? Moving the plants, if they are salvageable, is something I can do. Thank you.

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 26, 2024, 1:06 PM EDT
response: I didn't see any way to attach photos to my question, so I'm attaching them here.

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied June 27, 2024, 12:50 PM EDT
response: The site conditions being surrounded by heat-retaining and -reflecting surfaces are probably stressing the plants, as is the limited root room where they can stay hydrated. Are they being monitored for watering needs regularly? Stress from heat, drought, and other conditions can make plants more vulnerable to attack from insect pests.  We can't see the damage clearly enough (or it's too advanced) to determine the exact culprit, and it's also possible that more than one is present. Thrips are one possibility, as are spider mites and leafhoppers. Management tips for each are included on those linked pages. (We do not see indications of any fungal infections.)  Since the leaf injury is so significant on the oregano, you may want to cut that back to encourage regrowth, and treat the new growth early if it begins to show indications of the same kind of damage. (Don't pre-treat it, as spraying before insects or mites arrive won't help when using the lower-toxicity sprays that we'd recommend for those pests.)  Miri

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 27, 2024, 1:18 PM EDT
response: Thank you, Miri. I will move them. Also, I was able to photograph the pests and they are leafhoppers.   Nancy  On Jun 27, 2024, at 12:51 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:    ﻿

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 27, 2024, 1:18 PM EDT
response: Thank you, Miri. I will move them. Also, I was able to photograph the pests and they are leafhoppers.   Nancy  On Jun 27, 2024, at 12:51 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:    ﻿

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied June 27, 2024, 2:55 PM EDT
response: You're welcome!