Shotgun disease, caused by the fungus Stigmina carpophilum, makes the attractive foliage of the cherry laurel look as if it had been shot at with a shotgun. In addition to the laurel cherry, the stubborn fungus also attacks fruit trees such as cherries and plums and leads to enormous reductions in yield.
How do you treat shotgun disease on cherry laurel?
Shotgun disease in cherry laurel is caused by the fungus Stigmina carpophilum and appears as small reddish-brown spots on the foliage. You can control the disease by removing infected foliage, pruning the shrub in dry weather, and using environmentally safe fungicidal products.
The typical damage caused by the fungus
Small reddish-brown spots appear on the foliage of the cherry laurel. In the early stages of the disease, these can easily be confused with the harmless nectar glands of the tree. The brown spots slowly dry up until the plant finally rejects the necrotic tissue. What remains are the characteristic holes in the leaves of the affected bushes. Elongated, dark-colored necrosis also occurs on the branches of the laurel cherry. You can recognize these wounds by the slightly sunken spots, in the middle of which there is often a rubber-like drop.
Life cycle of fungus
The fungus initially attacks the leaves and, as the disease progresses, also the shoot tips of the cherry laurel. It overwinters in diseased leaves, in small branch wounds, on fruit mummies and in the shoot tips of infected trees.
If there is warm, humid weather in spring, the fungal disease spreads almost explosively because the spores are transported further by the precipitation. They land with the raindrops or mist on the leaves of neighboring plants and infect them.
Combating shotgun disease in cherry laurel
Since the fungus can be very stubborn, it is recommended to take consistent action against the spread of the plant disease from the first infestation:
- Remove all infected leaves and fruits and also collect fallen leaves.
- Ideally cut in dry weather to prevent the spores from spreading.
- Since the fungus survives in compost, all parts of the plant must be disposed of with household waste.
- Sprays with clay preparations (€7.00 at Amazon) and net sulfur Stulln have a gentle and environmentally friendly effect against shotgun blast.
If the shotgun disease cannot be contained by these measures, you can obtain highly effective chemical preparations commercially that are also approved for private gardens and which reliably kill the fungus.
Preventive measures
The same applies to shotgun shots: “Prevention is better than cure.” You can prevent the plant disease from spreading by taking the following measures:
- Strong winter pruning to remove shoot wounds.
- Spray the bushes with copper oxychloride before they sprout.
- Mulching makes it more difficult for the spores in the soil to spread.
Tips & Tricks
Shotgun disease is promoted by nitrogen-rich fertilization. When using shotgun pellets, you should therefore preferably fertilize with mature compost or manure, as these fertilizers only contain around 0.5 to 2 percent nitrogen.
