If the leaves on the apricot tree wilt out of the blue, you should take action. Don't wait until the leaves have fallen off. Read here about common causes of wilted leaves on the apricot tree. Tried-and-tested tips explain effective countermeasures. You can do this as a preventive measure.
Why does my apricot tree unexpectedly have wilted leaves?
The common cause of wilted leaves on the apricot tree is infection with a fungal or bacterialdisease, such as monilia tip drought, verticillium wilt, bacterial blight and shotgun disease. Wilting apricot leaves are often due to extreme weather, such aslate frostsin spring and weeks ofdroughts in summer.
Why is my apricot tree wilting in the middle of the season?
Especially on apricots (Prunus armeniaca), the leaves can wilt in the middle of the season due todiseases. An infestation with monilia tip drought, curl disease, verticillium wilt, bacterial blight and shotgun disease causes the foliage of individual branches or the entire crown to wilt. The damage usually affects an apricot tree that is already weakened by unfavorable location conditions, waterlogging, care errors or incorrect pruning.
Common causes of wilted leaves on the apricot tree are also extreme weather conditions, such aslate frostin spring and weeks ofdrought in summer.
What to do if the leaves on the apricot tree unexpectedly wilt?
If wilted leaves appear on the apricot tree, first determine thecauseand then tackle the problem. Withouttimely countermeasures, a wilting apricot tree can die. These are tried and tested solutions when an apricot tree wilts unexpectedly:
- Solving problems with diseases: cut back branches with hanging leaves to 10 cm into he althy wood; Do not throw clippings and fallen leaves into the compost.
- Problem solution to late frost damage: shorten frozen branches to short stubs.
- Solving problems in the event of drought: water the apricot thoroughly, place the root ball of a potted apricot in water.
What helps prevent wilted leaves on the apricot tree?
Preventative measures against wilted leaves on the apricot tree are asunny, warm location and good care. How to prevent apricot leaves from wilting prematurely:
- Plant apricots in full sun, protected from wind and rain, ideally on a trellis on the south side.
- Protect tree trunk from frost cracks in autumn with white paint.
- Fertilize organically in March/April with compost or horn shavings.
- Protect from frost in spring.
- At the end of May or beginning of June, thin out the fruit cover to a hand's width apart.
- Cut and thin out apricot trees in autumn only if necessary.
Tip
Pests overwinter in leaves and fruit mummies
Important care work in autumn protects your apricot tree from wilting in spring. Most pests overwinter on leaves and in fruit mummies, especially the fungal spores of Monilia laxa (tip drought). For this reason, you should not mulch the root slice of an apricot with autumn leaves, but rather with bark mulch or straw. Remove every single fruit mummy from the crown as a potential source of danger for your apricot tree.
