stripping of leaves??

[kaeferbug]

I have really bad sooty mold on 7 large hibisuc trees, it has even spread to the trunks.  I dont want to lose them, can I strip all the leaves of and hope it re-leafs?  any suggestions?

[Charlie]

Black sooty mold grows in the excretions of sap sucking insects like aphids, whiteflies, and scale. It is most important that you be sure these are gone or the problem will just continue. The best way to deal with sap sucking insects is to pour a mixture or water and Bayers Tree and Shrub into the root zone of the hbiscus. This pesticide is taken up into the plant and when sap sucking insects feed on the sap they are killed. It is a relatively safe pesticide for you to apply since no spraying is involved.

Pruning is the best way to get the plants to leaf out again. Depending on where you are located, you can prune as much of each affected branch as you like starting as soon as the threat of frost has past in your area. Late February is good for coastal California, much of the deep south, and TX, March for other areas a bit farther north. See the HVH pruning page for more details on how to prune. If you like the current shape of your hibiscus and do not want to prune this year then you can strip the affected leaves off and the hibiscus is likely to leaf out again once the weather turns warm.

Charlie

[kaeferbug]

Thankyou for your advice, I will use the bayers seeing as it works well on outdoor trees and shrubs. I forgot to mention that I have these in the greenhouse over winter...I am in Wisconsin!  Too cold to keep outside here!  thanks again