In contrast to a bulky garden fence, a hedge is a beautiful property boundary and an effective privacy screen. Especially in the summer months, shrubs and woody plants provide a lush green cover for the garden. It is perfectly normal for plants to shed their leaves in autumn. However, if your hedge turns brown in the warm season, it could be caused by pest infestation, diseases or incorrect care.
If the hedge turns brown, this can have very different causes
Possible causes
- natural brown coloring
- fertilizer and road salt
- dryness
- acid soil
- illness
- pest infestation
- root rot
Troubleshooting tips
Natural brown coloring
If the needles of your hedge turn red-brown in winter, there is no need to worry. This is a natural process to prevent the freezing temperatures of winter. The discoloration stops when frost arrives, and needle dropping is also possible. However, some cultivated forms are now evergreen.
fertilizer and road salt
Hedges are very sensitive to salt. Blue fertilizer in particular increases its content in the soil. If the tips of the branches are turning brown near the ground without using fertilizer, road salt could be to blame for the poor appearance. In this case, cutting back the brown shoots will help. Then rinse your hedge well with clean water.
dryness
The unwanted symptoms also occur with intense sunlight and too little water. In this case, of course, reinforced watering will help.
acid soil
A high manganese concentration in the soil also damages your hedge. To balance the acidic pH, do the following:
- Mix soil with carbonate of lime
- After three months, pile up fresh compost
- Test pH to be sure
illness
Various types of fungi can be fatal to a hedge of coniferous trees:
- Pestalotia dieback
- Didymascella thujina
- Kabatina dieback
All three species are mostly expressed in the formation of small black fruiting bodies on the needles. If your hedge is in the shade, it is particularly vulnerable, as are very old plants. Timely detection of the disease is then particularly important, as otherwise the fungus will spread to nearby plants. Cut back your hedge radically and remedy the symptoms with a suitable remedy from a specialist dealer. A humus-rich, loose soil is used for prevention.
pest infestation
A hedge is particularly susceptible to three types of pests:
- vine weevil
- leaf miner
- Thuja bark beetle
The first two parasites can be tackled with nematodes or a vigorous pruning. In the latter case, only disposal of the infested bush helps, as the beetle eats into the trunk.
root rot
It is considered the most dangerous disease of a hedge and in most cases leads to the complete death of the plant after the branches have initially turned brown. In order to avoid a large-scale spread, you must remove affected trees immediately. Also change the substrate, as root rot stays in the soil for a long time.