Beech trees, like all members of the beech family, are very robust and rarely get sick. In a proper location, disease almost never occurs. Pests can attack the deciduous tree sooner. How to recognize illnesses and what you can do about them.
What diseases can affect copper beeches?
Beech trees can be affected by fungal diseases such as leaf brown or pests such as beech ornamental louse and beech mealybug. To combat this, you can use fungicides and remove and dispose of the affected foliage.
A favorable location prevents many illnesses
Basically, copper beech is not very demanding when it comes to location. What you don't get are longer dry or wet periods.
The substrate should not be too sandy because the risk of drying out is higher.
The soil must be well-drained. If the soil is permanently moist because the rainwater cannot drain away, there is a risk that the roots will rot and the tree will die.
Identify and treat fungal diseases of copper beech trees
A fungal disease occasionally occurs on copper beech trees: leaf browning. It is caused by the fungus Apiognomonia, which is particularly favored by high humidity in the summer months and is noticeable through brown, wilting leaves.
The fungus does not cause much damage to the copper beech tree. Still, you should fight him. You can get appropriate sprays in stores (€11.00 on Amazon).
Pick up the fallen leaves and dispose of them in the trash can. This will prevent the fungus from spreading again next year.
These pests occur more often on copper beech trees
The beech ornamental louse and the beech mealybug in particular can be found on copper beeches.
The beech ornamental louse makes itself noticeable through curled leaves and dying young shoots. On the tree itself you will find the lice, which leave behind strong secretions.
The beech mealybug appears on the undersides of the leaves, where it leaves long threads. If the infestation is severe, the leaves curl up and fall off.
Pest Control
A he althy tree is not affected by a slight pest infestation. You can treat it with nettle broth or a commercial fungicide.
It is important that you do this
- Collect leaves carefully
- dispose of in the trash can
- Do not compost or use for mulching.
Tip
Beech trees are very fast-growing and have high nutrient requirements. The fertilizer must not be too high in nitrogen, as the tree will then develop too much leaf mass and be weakened.
