Cherry laurel »Recognizing and treating diseases

The most common diseases in the cherry laurel are:

• Shotgun
• Powdery mildew and downy mildew
• Leaf margin necrosis

You can recognize them by the discolored, stunted leaves or unsightly Toppings on the top or bottom of the leaf.

The shotgun disease

This fungal disease is not only evident in the laurel cherry, but also in the leaves and fruits of plum, peach or cherry trees. The fungus "Stigmina carpophila" is responsible for the infection. So far there are none that are completely resistant to this disease Cherry laurel varieties.

Damage image

The freshly sprouted leaves of the laurel cherry initially show about five to ten millimeters large, red-brown spots on the upper side of the leaf. As the plant rejects the damaged tissue, the holes typical of this plant disease appear in the leaves. If the infestation is severe, the cherry laurel sheds the infested leaves. Shot shot occurs mostly in humid years and in foggy areas with high humidity.

root cause

The fungus overwinters both in the diseased branches and in the leaves and the infected fruits of infected plants. The fungus forms its mycelium on the wounds of the branches, in which the spores form. The spores spread further through winds or rain showers.

Combat

Remove diseased and fallen leaves and dispose of all plant parts in the household waste so that the fungus cannot spread any further in the following year. Cut back the cherry laurel before the next shoot and thin out the bushes so that the wind can blow through the leaves.

You can treat shotgun with suitable fungicides. The agents kill the fungal spores before they attack the plant. Therefore, you have to inject the cherry laurel before the first budding and repeat the application one or two times.

prevention

Some cherry laurel species are more tolerant and resistant to the fungal disease. Only plant these varieties in damp, foggy regions. Wind-open and sunny locations are ideal, where the cherry laurel can dry off quickly after rain showers.

Powdery mildew and downy mildew

Powdery mildew damage

Real one mildew forms wipeable white to dirty brown deposits on the top and bottom of the leaf, the young shoots, flowers and fruits of the cherry laurel. As a result, the leaves turn brown and die. In contrast to other fungal diseases, powdery mildew mycelium does not grow in the plant tissue, but thrives on the leaf surface. Only the suction extensions (haustoria) anchor themselves in the leaves and remove nutrients from the cherry laurel. Since powdery mildew as an obligatory parasite is dependent on the survival of the host plant, even heavily infested shrubs can live on for a long time.

root cause

Powdery mildew is a dry fungus and occurs more frequently on warm days in spring and autumn when dew precipitation forms at night. In autumn, the fungus forms dark, spherical winter fruit bodies that overwinter in the fallen leaves of the laurel cherry.

Downy mildew damage

The downy mildew spores penetrate the laurel cherry and grow inside the leaf. From here, the spore carriers pass through stomata to the underside of the leaves, where they show up as a typically gray-whitish coating. Brown or yellow discolored areas are visible on the upper side of the leaf. The infected bushes are severely weakened and can die.

root cause

In contrast to powdery mildew, downy mildew loves damp weather conditions. One-sided fertilization and poor air circulation promote the infestation.

Combating powdery mildew and downy mildew

Immediately cut off the affected leaves and dispose of them in the household rubbish. Do not compost the diseased plant parts, as the powdery mildew survives in the soil and infects other plants when the fertilizer is applied. In the case of light infestation, spraying with milk, Field horsetail, Garlic, or tansy will help contain powdery mildew. If this is not enough, you can obtain highly effective fungicides on the market.

prevention

An airy location, good exposure, morning watering as well moderate fertilization reduce the susceptibility of cherry laurel to this fungal disease. Preventive sprayings with field horsetail strengthen the laurel cherry.

Leaf necrosis

Damage image

the The margins of the older leaves turn brown. The leaf gradually dries up and eventually falls off. Heavy infestation can lead to almost complete loss of leaves.

root cause

In addition to environmental pollutants, the occurrence of this disease in cherry laurel is directly related to the water quality. If the sodium content is too high, this leaf damage occurs frequently.

Combat

Only use rainwater for watering.

prevention

Unfortunately not possible because the groundwater and air quality cannot be influenced.

Tips & Tricks

If you discover small dark green or reddish brown points on the underside of the leaf to the side of the leaf axils, it is often not a disease at all. From these nectar glands (nectarines) high sugar-containing cell sap emerges, which attracts insects.

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