Whiteflies come out as temperatures climb. Look now for their clear, flat, scale-like young on the undersides of leaves. They attack many plants but seem to go out of their way to feed on gardenia and yellow-leaf ligustrum. Once they start flying, spray twice two weeks apart with Orthene. Powdery Mildew likes humid weather but not rain.
New growth turns white and powdery and leaves are distorted.
It is common on crape myrtle, roses, dogwood, phlox, euonymus and others. The best control is resistant varieties. Call for a list of resistant crape myrtles. The Garden Bench is another newsletter published bi-monthly by the Extension Service and distributed through garden centers and garden clubs. For your copy contact our office or pick it up at your local garden center.