Even with the most careful care, illnesses occasionally appear on the pasture. In this article you will learn how to recognize them and take care of them.
Powdery mildew commonly affects pastures
First rule out maintenance errors
Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish symptoms of a disease from the consequences of improper husbandry. If, for example, the leaves turn brown, simple measures usually help to keep the pasture healthy without fungicides. Because the genus Salix is actually considered a very resistant plant. So check first:
- whether the pasture is sunny enough.
- whether the soil is consistently wet.
- whether the soil contains enough nutrients.
- whether the roots can spread or are prevented from growing by encrusted layers of soil.
- it is a seasonal phenomenon.
Common diseases
- Marssonina disease
- willow scab
- shoot tip drought
- powdery mildew
- rust
Marssonina disease
Marssonina disease is caused by the fungus Marssonina salicicola. It affects pretty much all parts of the plant, with symptoms mostly appearing on the leaves. This is where necrosis develops, which later causes the leaves to curl up and become crippled. If the leaves dry up or fall off prematurely, it is usually too late to stop the infestation.
Be sure to cut back the tree and make sure that all affected branches are really disposed of. As a precaution, you should collect the fallen leaves in autumn.
willow scab
Here, too, a fungus triggers the disease: Pollaccia saliciperda. It attacks leaves, shoot tips and thick branches. Leaves lose mass, but remain on the tree for a remarkably long time. If the infestation is severe, the leaf stalks turn black.
A dose of potash and phosphorus helps the tree to strengthen its defenses.
shoot tip drought
In the case of shoot tip drought, the shoots are particularly affected. They turn dark and dry up. Eventually the willow will die.
Cut back the tree heavily to get rid of the affected branches.
powdery mildew
Powdery mildew is known for its white spots on the upper side of leaves. Fortunately, it can be combated with simple home remedies. are helpful
- Vegetable broths made from field horsetail or garlic
- Water, milk or water-soda solutions
- natural predators such as ladybugs
rust
Rust manifests itself as orange dots on the leaves. They can even die off. The disease often occurs in early summer.
Chemical means of treatment?
Fungicides are strongly discouraged as they damage both the pasture and the environment. Most of the time there are biological alternatives. Ask your specialist dealer.