Trees give our garden structure and provide us with shade in summer. What remains particularly special are fruit trees in your own garden. However, if these are attacked by fungal pathogens such as mildew, there is a risk of the entire harvest failing.
How do I recognize mildew on trees?
Powdery mildew appears as a white, wipeable coating on the top of the leaf. The buds can already be covered with a white coating. With downy mildew, a gray to purple fungal growth is visible on the underside of the leaves.
Which trees are sensitive to powdery mildew?
There are many species, both fruit trees and other deciduous trees, that are often affected by powdery mildew. In addition to the dreaded apple powdery mildew, powdery mildew fungi also occur on cherries, pears and peaches. Deciduous trees such as oak, beech, maple and many others can also be affected by mildew. Woody plants such as the serviceberry and the cornelian cherry also show mildew fungi under unfavorable conditions.
How do I treat mildew on trees?
Mildew on trees is initially contained by pruning andremoving the affected areas. This applies to both powdery mildew and downy mildew. You can treat smaller trees against powdery mildew with home remedies such as milk or baking soda. A garlic decoction helps against downy mildew. To do this, brew 50 grams of garlic with a liter of water and let this broth steep for a day. Apply this treatment weekly and after every rain.
How do I prevent mildew on trees?
In the first few years after planting, you should water regularly in the summer to prevent powdery mildewDo not use fertilizer with a high nitrogen content. This makes the leaves soft and fungal spores can penetrate more easily. Field horsetail contains a lot of silica, which strengthens the cells of the leaves. You can strengthen your trees, especially in the first few years, with horsetail tea.
How can I identify powdery mildew on large trees?
You can recognize powdery mildew infestation in winter and early spring by awhite coating on the buds In general, powdery mildew can be quickly overlooked on larger trees with a lot of foliage the fungus attacks the top of the leaf. Therefore, pay attention to the buds before they sprout. In addition, the affected leaves do not develop properly. They curl up and dry up. You can easily identify powdery mildew even on larger trees using these leaf clusters.
Tip
Resistant varieties
The best solution against powdery mildew is to use resistant varieties. Varieties are now available for many fruit trees such as apples and pears that are not affected by powdery mildew. This also applies to decorative varieties such as crabapples. Hardly any resistant varieties are available for deciduous trees such as oak and beech.
