A: I noticed some diseased leaves on my camellias today. I’ve had these plants for the past 10 years, and I don’t remember them ever having camellia leaf gall before.

With azaleas and camellias, leaves become large and distorted, and eventually a white powder covers the galls. The white growth consists of spores, which is how the fungus reproduces.

A: These small, black spots are on the back or underside of the leaves, which makes me think those are the shells of old lacebugs. It is much easier to manage azalea lacebugs in spring or summer ...