Unfortunately, apple trees are relatively often affected by fungal diseases. This also includes the apple grate or apple grid. In this article we will show you how you can recognize this disease and combat it effectively.
What is grating and does it cause serious damage to the apple tree?
Apple rustis caused byfungiof the genus Pucciniales, which spread quickly from tree to tree.rusty spots form on the upper side of the leaves,dark brown spore beds on the underside. The rust fungi deprive the apple tree of necessary nutrients and weaken it.
What does grating look like on an apple tree?
Typical of this disease are theorange-yellow leaf spots,which merge into one another when the infestation is severe. The fungal mycelium then runs through the entire area Sheet. On the underside of the leaves there are slightly raised spore beds that release a fine dust when touched.
From August onwards the spores change and become almost black. These winter spores survive the cold season on the fallen leaves.
What to do about apple rust?
Apple rust is arather rare fungal disease of apple trees that you can easily prevent:
- Since the spores germinate better on moist leaves, ensure that the crown is well ventilated by pruning regularly.
- Remove infected or fallen leaves quickly and dispose of them with household waste.
- Make sure the apple tree is supplied with sufficient nutrients, but do not over-fertilize the tree.
Tip
Horsetail broth protects against apple gridiron
Sprayed regularly over the leaves, horsetail broth ensures firmer cell walls and thereby protects the apple tree from rust. You can make the environmentally friendly preparation yourself from dried or fresh field horsetail. Alternatively, you can apply horsetail extract from specialist retailers.
