Powdery mildew on crepe myrtles can be managed how?

• A. Planting a resistant variety
• B. Spraying with a registered fungicide
• C. Spacing plants
• D. All of the Above

Answer: (D)

Managing powdery mildew on crepe myrtles relies on a combination of genetic resistance, cultural practices, and chemical control to reduce infection and keep plants healthy. Planting a resistant cultivar lowers the chance and severity of infection because the plant’s genetics limit the fungus’s ability to establish and spread. Spacing plants improves air flow and sun exposure, helping leaves dry more quickly and reducing the humidity that powdery mildew thrives in. Spraying with a fungicide that is registered for powdery mildew provides direct suppression of the pathogen when used as directed, ideally at first symptoms or during periods of high disease pressure. When you apply all these strategies together, you address the problem from multiple angles—reducing susceptibility, minimizing favorable conditions, and directly limiting the pathogen—so the overall management is strongest. All of the above.