SHREVEPORT, La. – Homeowners across the ArkLaTex may be noticing that their azaleas don’t look as lush this fall. Yellowing, speckled leaves are a common sight—and a common concern—but experts say the problem is not as serious as it looks.
Mark Wilson with the LSU Ag Center says the issue is caused by tiny insects that feed on the underside of azalea leaves. “You don’t notice it early in the spring when they’re active,” Wilson said. “But by fall, you start seeing the damage—leaves turn yellow or white and look speckled because the insects have pulled the nutrients and liquids out of the leaf.
Despite the alarming appearance, Wilson said the plants will recover. “The good news is the azaleas are fine. The damaged leaves will fall off, and by spring, they’ll put out a brand new flush of healthy growth,” he explained.
To prevent the problem next year, Wilson recommends treating the plants with a systemic insecticide, such as imidacloprid, in early spring. “It’s not a spray—it’s a soil drench,” he said. “You apply it around the base of the plant in March or April, and it’s absorbed through the roots. It’s like a booster shot for your plants.”
The treatment, he added, can help protect not just azaleas but most shrubs and trees from a variety of insect issues throughout the growing season.
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