In addition to bacteria and viruses, tree diseases are often caused by fungi. There are very different types that attack the leaves, flowers, fruits, shoots or roots. Many types of fungus are comparatively harmless and can be eliminated with a strong pruning. Others, on the other hand, have much more serious consequences.

Fungal infestation can often be seen on the leaves

Recognizing and combating fungal infestation

A fungal infestation is not always easy to recognize, the signs often resemble other diseases or a pest infestation and can easily be confused. However, these typical characteristics should make you suspicious and require a closer examination:

  • brown or black leaf spots
  • rust-colored pustules or spots on the leaves
  • mealy leaf coverings
  • suddenly withering shoots and twigs

In all of these cases, you should first check the affected tree for possible pest infestation. If this can be ruled out, compare the damage with the exemplary damage pictures in a specialist book or on the Internet. In this way, the pathogen can usually be narrowed down quite well. With most fungal diseases, a vigorous pruning of all affected parts is sufficient, whereby too much removal of the leaves, for example, can in turn result in the tree dying. Therefore, in the case of a very severe infestation, only pesticides can often help.

Effectively prevent fungal infections

In any case, prevention is the most effective medicine. To ensure that fungal pathogens don't even stand a chance, you should take these preventive measures to heart:

  • When planting, ensure sufficient spacing.
  • Keep the tree canopy light.
  • Remove deadwood as soon as possible.
  • Provide loose, well-drained soil.
  • Avoid waterlogging.
  • Fertilize properly - not too little and not too much!
  • Use organic pesticides, such as field horsetail broth.

Always problematic: tree fungi

So-called xylobionts are wood-decomposing tree fungi that can mostly infest dead trees, but also weakened living specimens. Honey fungus, common sulfur polypore or birch polypore, oyster mushroom or tinder fungus first develop in secret for years - their fruiting bodies only appear when the mycelium has already penetrated the wood. There is no longer any salvation for such a tree - you can only cut it down. However, you can wait a little longer with that, because fruit trees in particular often continue to bear fruit for a long time and only gradually die.

tips

Lichens are a symbiotic community of certain bacteria and algae. These only sit on the tree, but do not tap into it. They are therefore damaging to the plant, but are often an indicator of weakened specimens.

Category:

Trees