BOSTON IVY disease suspected

[Noah Reon]

I have a bed of Boston Ivy as a ground cover which has been growing nicely for twenty years. Hurricane Katrina destroyed a portion of the canopy of trees overhead but there is sufficient shade for it to exist. A small area began to brown up and I suspected it could have been from salt left over from the flooding. I evacuated and do not think water actually got on the property. The drift line was just a short distance away in my neighbors yard. The yellowing of leaves started in the lowest spot in the bed. It is now spreading outward and I have begun to suspect a disease. It looks as though the whole area (about 2500 square) feet will die off if I cannot find the cause and give proper treatment. HELP PLEASE

[Newt]

Hi Noah,

There are several possibilities. Take a look here at these diseases.

Downy mildew
https://plant-disease.ippc.orst.edu/disease.cfm?RecordID=1331

Leaf scorch
https://plant-disease.ippc.orst.edu/disease.cfm?RecordID=1382

Phyllosticta leaf spot
https://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/diagnostics/ivyls.html

Powdery mildew
https://plant-disease.ippc.orst.edu/image.cfm?RecordID=920

Bacterial leaf scorch
https://www.ppath.cas.psu.edu/EXTENSION/PLANT_DISEASE/bac_leaf.html

More info including some pests.
https://vvv.state.ct.us/caes/PlantPestHandbookFiles/pphB/pphbost.htm

Newt