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UC Master Gardener Program of Alameda County

Pests

Learn about garden pests, including insects like aphids and earwigs, and wildlife like gophers and deer. Learn how to manage them.

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Crape Myrtle leaves with sooty mold
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What is that Black Stuff on my Plant Leaves?

June 14, 2025
By Judy Quan
The black stuff on your leaves is likely sooty moldThe black stuff on your leaves is probably sooty mold, a fungal disease growing on plants and other surfaces, and it is often seen in the spring and summer. The leaves or stems have a black coating that looks like soot. If you look closely, it is growing…
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