Question: What is killing my redtip photinias? Their leaves have purple spots all over them.

Answer: Anytime we grow too much of any one type of plant, we need to watch out for insect or disease problems that move through entire neighborhoods. Such is the case with Entomosporium fungal leaf spot. This disease was comparatively uncommon until we planted wall-to-wall photinias. Now it has reduced them to third-class plants. The toxins it puts into their wood seems to stop all of their growth and development. Soon the plants are sickly yellow, then dead. There is no effective control for this very damaging disease. Replace affected redtips with large types of hollies or other suitable shrubs.