Pear rust is a fungal disease that is particularly feared by pear tree owners. But conifers are also affected because they serve as an intermediate host for the pathogen. You can find out which conifer species are affected and what measures you can take in this article.
Which conifers can be affected by pear rust?
Pear rust mainly affects juniper species, especially the Sade tree. Domestic varieties such as Juniperus communis are not affected. Other conifers such as cypresses or thuja are not affected. Preventive measures and removal of infected shoots are important for combating them.
Which conifers can be affected by pear rust?
The pear rust only affects juniper species. The Sade tree (Juniperus sabina), a subspecies of juniper, is particularly susceptible to the fungal disease. Domestic varieties such as Juniperus communis, on the other hand, cannot infect themselves or other plants with the pear grid. Other conifers such as cypresses and thujas are also not affected by the fungus.
How do you recognize the pear trellis on juniper bushes?
The fungus overwinters in juniper. Between March and May you can see the reproductive organs in the form of small dots on the affected shoots. When wet they swell intoorange cones made of a gelatinous mass. The size of these fruiting bodies depends on various factors such as the weather, the severity of the infestation and the type of fungus. As soon as the weather becomes drier again, the fruiting bodies shrink again and are difficult to see.
How does a conifer become infected with pear trellis?
Thevariety of juniper bushes and their different species are suspected as the cause of the pathogen's rapid multiplication. This increased sharply in the 1990s along with the spread of the pear grid. The fungus only survives if juniper and pear trees grow in close proximity to each other, as it uses the juniper as a host in winter and the pear tree in summer.
What damage does pear trellis cause to conifers?
Juniper is relatively robust against pear rust infestation. It is hardly damaged by the fungusHowever, the sight of the orange jelly is not particularly appealing and at the same time the infestation can spread further through a pear tree in the neighborhood. It is therefore recommended to treat the fungus.
How do you fight pear rust?
- Identify yourjuniper species exactly and determine whether it can be affected by the pear trellis.
- Check your juniper bushes regularly from March to May forSigns of pear rust.
- Removeinfected shoots generously. You can dispose of them in the compost.
- If the infestation is already too severe, you have toremove the entire plant.
How can you prevent re-infestation?
- Removeinfected pear leaves early so that they cannot form aecidia, the spores of which are transferred back to the juniper bushes in autumn.
- Fertilize Regularly fertilize your juniper bushes so that they become more resistant to diseases.
- Water the juniper during dry periods.
- Choose betweenjuniper and pear tree and remove one of the two plants.
- Speak to yourneighborhood about the pear grid. The spores can be transmitted up to a kilometer away and are therefore not limited to your own property.
Tip
Chemically treat pear grate
There are now a few fungicides that can be used to treat infected juniper bushes. However, the application is not guaranteed to be successful because the pathogens are mainly located in the woody parts of the plant. For an ecologically valuable garden, it is recommended to avoid chemical measures and instead use the natural methods presented.
