What's it look like?

You'll know you have petal blight on your azaleas if the flowers are dried up and sticking to the plant. Healthy flowers just fall to the ground. Sometimes azalea petals can be soft, brown and soggy if the condition is not severe, later drying out as the disease continues.

What it attacks

Petals and buds of most azaleas.

What to do before it arrives

Install a drip system irrigation. Fungal spores are spread by irrigation water falling on unaffected petals.

Choose disease resistant varieties. Check your plant labels for these because these plants perform much better than othes.

Make sure there's good air circulation around plants.

What to do if you already have problems

Cut back branches with any infected flowers as soon as you see it occur. Do not compost.

Use chive or chamomile spray and apply it every couple of days until it's under control. Then keep up a preventative spray every 10 to 14 days. Reapply after rain.