The false cypress is a robust ornamental tree that rarely suffers from diseases if the site conditions are right. Pests occur more frequently and can cause lasting damage, especially to weakened plants. What you can do about diseases and pest infestations.
What diseases can affect false cypress trees?
Cypress trees can be attacked by fungal diseases, leaf miners, bark beetles and bark beetles. To prevent the spread of disease, affected parts of the plant should be removed, the location checked and the plant properly cared for.
Diseases rare but dangerous
In most cases, illnesses are caused by fungal infections. The shoot tips turn brown and die prematurely.
You should remove affected plant parts as quickly as possible and dispose of them with household waste.
In a favorable location, fungi cannot spread as quickly. Make sure there is enough distance from other plants to allow air to circulate. A soil that is too moist and waterlogged is very unfavorable and promotes fungal infestation.
How to recognize pest infestation
If feeding passages can be seen in dying shoot tips, or if the branches are even completely hollow, it is not a fungus, but rather a pest. There are different species of moths and beetles that can be dangerous to false cypress:
- Leaf miners
- sapwood beetle
- bark beetle
What to do if there is a fungal or pest infestation?
If fungi or pests have infected your false cypress, you should cut off the affected branches generously and throw them in the trash. But make sure that you do not cut into the old wood, as the false cypress will no longer sprout.
Leaf miners can appear twice a year and thereby cause lasting damage to the plant. If the infestation is very severe, you should use a commercially available insecticide to combat it.
So far there are no really effective pesticides against fungal diseases and beetle infestations. In the worst case scenario, you have no choice but to pull out the entire plant and dispose of it - but please do not add it to the compost in the garden or use it as mulching material.
He althy cypress trees survive pests well
A he althy false cypress tree can survive a pest infestation without major damage. Therefore, take precautions and ensure good care:
- sunny location
- humous, nutritious soil
- Never let the root ball dry out completely
- Avoid waterlogging at all costs
- fertilize regularly
- keep enough distance from other plants.
Tip
If the shoot tips turn reddish in summer, this is not due to a disease or pest infestation. These are burns caused by strong sunlight. Simply cut off the shoot tips.
