Like other spruces, the Serbian spruce can suffer from diseases and pests. It originally comes from the border area of Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, but is often planted in this country as an ornament in gardens and parks.
The bark beetle likes to eat the Serbian spruce
Which diseases occur in Serbian spruce?
In principle, the same diseases and pests occur in the Serbian spruce as in other spruces. Only the spruce sawfly does not seem to like the Serbian spruce. On the other hand, it often suffers from honey fungus, a tasty edible mushroom. He can even cause this spruce to die off.
Some species of bark beetle are also dangerous for the Serbian spruce, especially the bark beetle, the striped timber bark beetle and the copper engraver. Red rot occurs either as wound rot or as root fungus. The second variant is clearly dangerous and kills the spruce after some time.
One disease is even named after the Serbian spruce (bot. Picea omorika): Omorika dieback. If there is too much chlorine and/or too little magnesium in the soil, the needles turn brown and the spruce dies later. Very changeable weather and heavily compacted soil promote the outbreak of this disease.
Possible diseases and pests:
- Bark Beetle (Book Printer, Striped Timber Bark Beetle, Engraver)
- Omorika dying
- Fungal infections (including edible mushrooms)
- red rot
- Sitka spruce aphid
Can I still save a sick Serbian spruce?
Whether a diseased spruce can still be saved depends on various factors, namely the type of pathogen or pest and the progress of the damage. The sooner you discover a problem with your Serbian spruce, the better the chances of recovery.
However, the red rot in the form of a root fungus, for example, is difficult to recognize. The pathogen enters the tree via the roots, the disease usually spreads throughout the entire wood core before it becomes visible from the outside. Then the affected spruce can only be felled.
tips
The Serbian spruce appears to be resistant to the small spruce sawfly, but is quite susceptible to the honey fungus.