Home gardeners rarely have to complain about diseases on professionally cared for maple trees. However, the decorative tree is not immune to fungal attack. The focus is on two fungal pathogens. You can read here what these are, what symptoms occur and how to combat them.

Fungal diseases often first appear on the leaves

Recognizing and combating powdery mildew - this is how it works

The warm summer time brings a widespread fungal pathogen onto the scene, which hardly spares any ornamental and useful plants. The disease known as powdery mildew is a collective term for various fungal infections with similar symptoms. A simple home remedy has proven to be the best way to combat it:

  • Typical symptom: Mealy, whitish to gray coating on the upper and/or lower sides of the leaves
  • Immediate measure: remove all affected parts of the plant and burn or bury them deep
  • Control: add 125 milliliters of fresh milk to 1 liter of water and spray on repeatedly
  • Alternatively: treat with a decoction of field horsetail

The lecithin contained in fresh milk (no UHT milk) effectively combats the fungal spores. The silicic acid contained in the field horsetail decoction has a similar effect. As is usual for natural remedies, a resounding success can only be seen after repeated use.

Red pustule disease - symptoms, control and prevention

If the twigs are covered with pinhead-sized, vermilion to dark red pustules, red pustule disease (Nectria cinnabarina) has struck. The pathogen occurs all year round and primarily targets maple species. Fatal consequences of this fungal attack can be cancerous growths on branches and trunks. Fungicides of all kinds have so far been at a loss when it comes to fighting the fungal infection. How to fight the disease:

  • Cut back infected shoots to a depth of 20 cm into the healthy wood
  • The best time is on a frost-free day in late winter, before the start of the growth phase
  • Burn clippings, bury them or dispose of them in household waste

The red pustular fungus mainly targets weakened trees. Potassium-rich, low-nitrogen, organic fertilization in autumn has a preventive effect. Avoid drought stress and waterlogging with a regular and well-measured water supply.

tips

Contaminated scissors and saws are among the most common carriers of pathogens. Do not cut a maple into shape until you have carefully disinfected the blades with spirit or a liquid household cleaner.

Category:

Trees