Combat Verticillium wilt disease

Symptoms

Verticillium wilt is caused by fungi of the genus Verticillium, which mostly live in the soil and also penetrate the plant from there. A possible infestation can be recognized by the following symptoms:

• until recently, green leaves that were strong and wilted
• Foliage is pale in color and slack
• if the infestation is already severe, the bark is no longer smooth but cracked
• Branches and shoots die for no apparent reason

When making a diagnosis, however, it should be noted that some symptoms can also have a different cause. Flaccid, dry leaves for example, an indication of a lack of water or, on the contrary, of waterlogging. So before you take drastic measures, the first thing to do is to pinpoint the exact cause.

Combat

Unfortunately, it is not possible to successfully treat the fungus with a fungicide, and various home remedies are also not helpful. The only way to combat it should be as early as possible and as soon as the first signs appear - however, the infected Japanese maple can only rarely be saved even then.

• Cut away the affected areas generously
• and treat the interfaces just as generously Tree wax.(€ 18.62 at Amazon *)
• If possible, dig up the tree
• and put it in a bucket of fresh earth.
• Then thoroughly disinfect the cutting tool
• and do not throw the highly infectious clippings on the compost.

Above all, make sure not to use any plants that are susceptible to Verticillium wilt at the affected location, as the pathogen remains in the soil. The soil should definitely be replaced before replanting.

prevention

You can get an infection with the Verticillium fungus just by being careful Selection of the location Prevent, for example, by not planting susceptible plant species (such as the Japanese maple) where the pathogen has already appeared. Incidentally, this also applies to a new planting after a soil replacement; even then, trees that are as resistant as possible should be selected.