Treating powdery mildew on maple: what to do?

Whether you are looking for a shady tree, a decorative ornamental tree or a fast-growing hedge plant, a maple is the right choice for you. It is often attacked by powdery mildew. We show what helps against it.

Recognizing powdery mildew on the maple

Powdery mildew is not the same as powdery mildew. More than a hundred species are distributed worldwide. In Germany, powdery mildew and downy mildew are the most common. The two fungal diseases can be distinguished on the basis of the symptoms.

powdery mildew

• white, mealy deposits on the upper side of the leaves
• Coatings gradually become darker
• affected parts dry out and die

Powdery mildew occurs primarily in warm, dry weather.

Wrong mildew

• gray deposits on the undersides of the leaves
• white spots on the upper side of the leaves

Downy mildew requires warmth and moisture to develop. If water collects on the leaves after heavy rains in summer, the fungus can spread.

A notice: Let windfall do not lie in the garden and remove fruit mummies from the fruit trees. This is where the fungal spores of downy mildew overwinter.

Control powdery mildew on the maple

If you are into small maple trees or hedge plants If you notice powdery mildew, you can remedy the situation with the following measures:

Remove affected plant parts

Do not wait too long. Immediately cut off the affected leaves, twigs and branches with a sharp knife. Thoroughly disinfect the cutting tool after use. Dispose of the cut material in the residual waste.

Sprinkle with milk

short stature maple varieties or hedge plants can be treated with a milk solution in case of powdery mildew infestation.

Instructions

1. Mix 125 milliliters of milk and a teaspoon of washing-up liquid with a liter of water.
2. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
3. Spray all the tops and bottoms of the maple leaves with the milk mixture.
4. Repeat the procedure every four days until the symptoms disappear.

Spray with baking soda

baking soda is an all-rounder in the household. The home remedy even works well to combat powdery mildew on maples.

Instructions

1. Put a packet of baking soda in two liters of cold water.
2. Add a tablespoon of cooking oil and mix everything together.
3. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
4. Thoroughly spray the tops and undersides of the leaves.

A notice: There is not always a powdery mildew behind white deposits on the maple leaves. Spider mites cause similar symptoms.

Prevent powdery mildew on maple

It would be best to effectively prevent maple mildew rather than having to treat it. This is not easy, because the mildew spores spread with the wind. When they get on maple leaves, they settle there, penetrate the cell layer and form a mycelium. Nevertheless, these preventive measures have proven their worth:

• Don't plant maples too densely
• pour from below only
• in the morning hours
• Design a garden close to nature
• beneficial insects (ex. B. ladybug) actively combat powdery mildew

Tip: Plant marigolds, cornflowers, and garlic peppermint into your garden. Then the ladybugs will come by themselves.

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