Barberries are naturally a defensive plant genus. With sharp thorns and poisonous ingredients, they keep predators away from the floral body. If necessary, cunning pests will hunt down the bushes themselves. In the fight against two diseases, however, barberries need the support of the gardener. This guide explains the exact connections.

The barberry rarely gets sick

Combat grain rust effectively - this is how it works without chemicals

At the beginning of the 20th century, barberries were almost extinct because they act as an intermediate host for the dreaded grain rust (Puccinia graminis). This is a fungal infection that causes great damage in grain cultivation. The spores abuse barberry species as a location for one of their five development cycles on the way to the primary host, the grain. The following overview lists symptoms and control methods:

  • Yellow-red pustules on the upper side of the leaves, large, light yellow spots as spore deposits on the undersides of the leaves
  • In the further course: black discoloration and shedding
  • Immediate measure: Cut back all infected plant parts
  • Biological control: preparations with sulphur, such as sulphurite or Atempo Kupfer-Pilzfrei from Neudorff

If grain rust is already rampant in your area, we recommend strengthening your barberries with horsetail broth as a preventative measure, which you can make yourself or buy from specialist retailers.

Combat barberry powdery mildew - with this home remedy you can do it

If a mealy-white coating covers the lush green leaves of a barberry, powdery mildew has struck. The widespread fungal infection cannot be prevented by the toxic alkaloids from spreading to leaves, shoots and even thorns. As a fair-weather fungus, the obvious symptoms usually surface during the summer. The appropriate control agent is already in your fridge. That is how it goes:

  • Cut off severely infested parts of the plant and dispose of with household waste
  • Add 125 ml of fresh milk to 1 l of water, stir and pour into a spray bottle
  • Repeatedly spray the infected barberry dripping wet with milk and water every 3 days

It is important that you use fresh milk and not UHT milk. The contained lecithins put an end to the fungal spores.

tips

Balanced care is the best prevention of barberry diseases. The organic nutrient supply plays an important role. Please avoid nitrogen-rich fertilization with blue grain or similar mineral products. A start fertilization with compost and horn shavings (32.93€) in March/April completely covers the nutrient requirements of all barberry species.

Category:

Vegetable garden