Forsythia are hardy and hardy. There aren't many diseases or pests that can cause real damage to shrubs. When diseases and pests occur, care mistakes are almost always responsible.
Forsythia is very robust and not very susceptible to diseases
Abnormalities on the branches of the forsythia
Diseases are mainly noticeable on the shoots. Not all abnormalities in the branches have to be caused by disease. The most common changes are:
- association changes
- shoot galls
- fungal diseases
- dieback
association changes
The branches of the forsythia thicken and look as if several ribbons are lying next to each other. This is a genetic disorder. Flowers develop normally on it.
You don't have to do anything. Only if you are very bothered by the thickened areas, cut them off.
shoot galls
Shoot galls are noticeable by ball-like thickening at the tips of the shoots. Tissue proliferation occurs mainly in weak plants and is caused by a bacterium.
Remove the affected shoots. Sometimes a vigorous pruning helps to strengthen the shrub.
fungal diseases
If the leaves curl up, wilt and fall off prematurely, a fungal disease is usually present. It is favored when the forsythia does not get enough air.
Here, too, cut off the affected forsythia branches and thin out the bush.
dieback
If it is very wet in winter and spring, entire shoots will occasionally die and the flower buds will dry up. Both bacteria and harmful fungi can be responsible for this.
Cut off affected shoots generously. If possible, make sure that the soil is permeable to water so that the forsythia is not so damp.
Bugs can become a problem
In the spring you often notice that the young leaves are perforated, as if caterpillars had eaten them. The cause is leaf bugs that pierce the leaves that are still rolled up to suck out the juice. The holes are caused by punctures in the leaf.
The bugs themselves are difficult to find, as they will drop to the ground as soon as they are in danger. So far, there has been no effective way to combat these pests.
tips and tricks
Forsythia is very easy to care for. Only drought and waterlogging really resent the shrubs. Provide a good location to prevent disease.