It's not just the pretty red flowers that make hawthorn so attractive, but also its differentiated, structured leaves. But what if he loses her? We will inform you about possible causes and countermeasures here.
Why does the hawthorn lose its leaves?
The hawthorn usually loses its leaves in summer due to a fungal disease called leaf brown. Signs of this include brownish spots on the leaves, which later converge, the leaf becomes discolored and eventually falls off. Countermeasures include thorough disposal of affected plant parts and possible application of a fungicide.
Summer leaf fall is a concern
The hawthorn is a deciduous tree - so if it sheds its leaves in autumn, that is completely normal. However, if this happens in the summer, something is definitely wrong. The reason is usually a fungal disease that needs to be combated urgently.
In general, hawthorn is susceptible to the following evils:
- Firebrand
- Web Moth
- Leaf Tan
Firebrand
This dangerous bacterial disease is unfortunately a heavy burden for the hawthorn. Because it is very susceptible to the pathogen Erwinia amylovora and this spreads like an epidemic, entire areas of the country are considered to be at risk of fire blight and unfavorable for hawthorn cultivation. This disease cuts off the water supply and blocks the immune system, resulting in broken, dried leaves. But they still don't fall away.
Web Moth
This pest also attacks the green leaves of the hawthorn, but does not cause them to fall off. Rather, the insect greedily eats it when it is fresh. In this respect, the hawthorn is also and above all defoliated and covered with white webs all over. However, a web moth infestation does not cause leaves to drop.
Leaf Tan
All that's actually left is leaf browning, a fungal disease to which hawthorn is susceptible. It actually causes the leaves to discolor and then fall off. You can recognize the fungus by the brownish spots that initially appear, which then converge until the leaf is completely discolored. Then it is thrown off so that the whole hawthorn is already defoliated in late summer.
The problem is that the fungus does not die in winter, but survives in the fall. So that you don't have the same trouble every year, you need to thoroughly dispose of all diseased parts of the plant. First, thin out the crown and all affected branch parts and dispose of everything in household waste, never in the compost. It is also very important to rake up the fallen leaves thoroughly and dispose of them in the same way.
You can also apply a fungicide, ideally after the flowering period. Spray the undersides of the leaves thoroughly and repeat the process after about 6 weeks. The more thorough you are in a year, the more assured you will be of peace once and for all.
