The hawthorn is not only a hearty, colorful beauty among the hedge plants, but also completely frost hardy and tolerates city air. However, one or the other disease can attack the rose plant.
The spider moth is very easy to recognize by its webs
A red descendant of the hawthorn
The cultivar Paul's Scarlet of the Crataegus laevigata - the two-pronged hawthorn - is regarded as a true hawthorn. It is therefore a carmine-red flowering cultivar of this native hedge plant. Accordingly, the hawthorn has very similar properties and requirements - it delights with the decoratively lobed foliage typical of hawthorn and loves the sun and nutrient-rich, calcareous soil just like its white-flowered ancestor.
Similar disease risks
fire blight
Unfortunately, the hawthorn also has certain health risks in common with the hawthorn. Although it is very tolerant of frost and city air, it is susceptible to fire blight. This bacterial disease is very dangerous and must also be reported to the Plant Protection Office because of its strong transmission potential to other rose plants, especially pome fruit trees.
If a hawthorn is infected, it shows darkly discolored branches and dried shoot tips that look like they have been burned.
Unfortunately, this disease cannot be easily cured and is therefore so feared. Without countermeasures, hawthorns die after one to two years, young plants are killed after two to three weeks.
If the disease is diagnosed (which can clearly only be done in the laboratory), the diseased parts of the plant must be cut out very generously. If the infestation is severe, clearing is necessary. The infected material should be incinerated if possible, if necessary in a waste incineration plant for larger quantities.
In order to prevent fire blight, you can use special yeast preparations, which prevent the pathogen from penetrating the plant, especially in the riskiest time in summer when the weather is warm and humid.
To remember:
- Fire blight is a highly contagious, notifiable bacterial disease
- In case of infestation, generous pruning or clearing is necessary
- Burn diseased plant material
- For prevention: yeast preparations
web moth
Another risk to hawthorn health is the spider moth. It eats away at the leaves of the plant and covers them with conspicuous white webs.
The best way to combat an infestation is mechanically by spraying the hawthorn with a strong jet of water. It is effective, albeit laborious, to scrape the still pupated caterpillars off the branches in late winter. In the case of spider moths that have already hatched, it is difficult for pesticides to reach the pests through the webs that are then formed - in this case, first remove the webs by hand.