Recognize and treat diseases

General

Probably the clearest sign of a diseased jaw is the discoloration and the subsequent loss of the needle dress. If you can rule out poor site conditions and care errors, you probably have a jaw disease. The three most common diseases are discussed below:

• Calcium chlorosis
• Pine chute
• and Scleroderris Disease

Calcium chlorosis

This disease describes a nutrient deficiency, particularly iron, which is caused by an excessively alkaline pH value in the soil. Calcareous substrates are rather unsuitable for pines. Watering with tap water that is too hard is also a common reason for the undersupply. With these measures you can make the earth fit again:

• fertilization with iron chelates
• a fertilization with Epsom salt
• acidic leaf compost or Coniferous fertilizer use
• Pay attention to soft irrigation water (rainwater is well suited)

Pine chute

Lophodermium seditiosum is what botanists call the fungus that triggers the dreaded pine chute. It mainly affects young pines under ten years of age. You can recognize it by the small yellow spots that show up in September and multiply over the winter rapid. In the following spring, the needles are shed, whereupon fruit bodies form on the pine in the summer. The fungal infection can be treated as follows:

• Dispose of infected needles immediately
• Protect the pine with a fungicide in August

Scleroderris disease

This is a hose fungus that primarily attacks the forest and mountain pines. Scleroderris disease is also known as shoot death and has been spreading from the south to the northern hemisphere for years. At first the needle tips turn brown, later the leaves completely die off. Fungicides against the fungus are unfortunately forbidden. However, there are alternative measures:

• remove affected branches
• it is best to burn infected wood
• inform the responsible forest office