This could well indicate that the shrub is suffering from the so-called leaf spot disease. You should do something about it quickly so that the plant suffers as little damage as possible. How exactly do you recognize leaf spot on hydrangeas and what can you do about it?
Recognizing leaf spot disease on hydrangeas
The disease can be caused by three pathogens: either bacteria, viruses or fungi, the latter being the most common culprits. The fact that an infection occurs in the first place is often (but not always) because the plant was previously weakened, e.g. B. due to a lack of water and, above all, nutrients.
How do you tell if it really is hydrangea leaf spot?
- brown to black spots on the hydrangea leaves
- yellow spots on the leaves, usually around the dark spots
- later in disease development, leaves turn completely yellow
- Leaves can tear
- Affected plants can no longer grow
What brown leaves can be a sign of,read here.
What you can do against the disease
A fungicide can be used, but it doesn't have to be, because whether it will really work depends primarily on whether fungi are actually the cause in your case. Before you resort to chemistry, you can try the following:
Can you use home remedies against leaf spot on hydrangeas?
If you don't want to use chemical pesticides, always try natural remedies in the garden first. However, this is not possible with this disease because it is loudGarden JournalThere are no effective home remedies for this hydrangea disease. Instead, follow these steps:
- Cut off any leaves that show signs of disease. To do this, use sharp scissors, which you must then disinfect to avoid infecting other plants.
- From now on, you should pay even more attention to how you water your hydrangeas: the leaves should not get wet. Always water from below, i.e. at the trunk and root area.
- To avoid further damp conditions for the fungal spores, you should ensure good ventilation. You can achieve this through regular thinning. Less dense growth guarantees better air circulation, whereas dense growth causes air to accumulate.
- Fertilize from now on at the latest in appropriate quantities and repetitions. Only a strong plant can successfully defend itself against pathogens.
- Collect the leaves that fall off in autumn as quickly as possible, not only to get rid of the affected parts of the plant, but also to avoid further infections. The pathogens survive the winter without any problems.
- Diseased clippings and fall leaves are comingabsolutely no wayon the compost! In this way, sooner or later they would release the pathogens again. Instead, throw them in the trash.
If all of these measures have not worked or if the leaf spot disease on the hydrangea has already progressed significantly, you can also think about using a fungicide to save your flowering shrub.
What to avoid in the future to prevent reinfection
So that you don't have to fight hard for your garden plant's survival again in the future, you can now take a few measures that will greatly reduce the risk of illness.
- Too much moisture
As already mentioned, you should water properly for this purpose,but also cutting. To prevent fungal spores from spreading in the garden, damp areas should be avoided. A common cause is fallen leaves or grass clippings, which accumulate moisture and promote fungal growth when the weather is right.
- Inappropriate fertilizer routine and products
Be sure to give the plant theto give the right nutrientsand that too at the right intervals, depending on the fertilizer. With long-term fertilizers, repeated fertilization is not necessary as quickly as with quick-acting agents.
- Inappropriate locations
If the garden shrub is positioned incorrectly, it becomes weaker and more susceptible to disease and pest infestation. This must be avoided. Hydrangeas need it,I nach Sort, partially shaded or possibly sunny, whereby the soil should be slightly acidic and permeable. Doesn't that apply to the current location? Consider transplanting the shrub. The perfect conditions for mushrooms exist, especially in the shade.
- Wait too long to fight it
If you notice spots, act immediately because the sooner you intervene, the less damage the disease will be able to cause. For this reason, you should regularly check not only your hydrangeas, but all garden plants.
Tipp:There are now varieties that...in relation to diseasesare more resistant than before. So if you were unable to save your hydrangea bush and would like to replace it or supplement it with another specimen, you can and should choose such varieties.
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Cover image: Photo: Thippawan NZ/ Shutterstock
