Plum diseases: Treatment, protection, and prevention

Plum diseases: Of course, all the ailments affected by plum trees can be avoided. The secret of success is the correct prevention, and protection of the tree and the fruits themselves, as well as a prudent approach to caring for the health of the whole tree. In such a case, the chance of an outbreak of a plum disease or a possible attack of unwanted pests is minimal. However, it is necessary to know how individual diseases manifest themselves, what symptoms they cause and how to defend against them as effectively as possible.

3 most common plum diseases

Red speckled leaves

The most common disease that can affect plums is the fungus known as Polytime rubrum. She waits for her opportunity during the winter, when she is hidden so that she can spread the spreading infection on the plum leaves in the spring.

A batch of plums

The reason for the rupture of the plum brandy, in contrast to the red spot of the leaves, is the virus. It is one of the worst viral diseases, which affects not only plums, but also many other fruit trees, from which the virus can spread to plums.

Plum Germanic

As with red leaf spot, the fungus is usually the cause of the disease. However, its goal is not the leaves, but the fruits themselves. They damage them gradually, first changing color, then deforming their shape until they are completely degraded.

Plum diseases: Other known diseases of plums

Plums in our garden can also suffer from other diseases. Although these are not as common as in the above cases, their occurrence can also result in crop destruction or damage to the tree itself.

Dry spotting of leaves

Lesser-known disease only affects plum leaves. Small brown-red spots, which are initially only about 5 mm in size, alert us to its spread. However, with a more aggressive course of the disease, they can spread relatively quickly, which would lead to an early fall of the affected leaves.

Monosomies of pucks and fruits

Among the diseases of plums caused by dangerous fungi are also the so-called meiosis of pucks and fruits. The fungus responsible for it is most successful in periods of frequent weather variability, ideally at temperatures from about 10 to 12 ° C. The consequence of its tanning can also be the emergence of the so-called manila plum rot.

Magnalium plum rot

An inconspicuous, but even more insidious disease always arises as a secondary consequence of the tanning of fungi or pests. While it sometimes occurs as a result of an outbreak of moniliasis, other times it may be due to plum worms, which is a breeding ground for this type of rot.

Plum diseases: The 3 most common pests of plums

Plum wrapper

Wrappers belong to a genus that does mischief on several types of fruit trees. The plum coater focuses on plums, whose larvae cause plum worms. The consequence of worming is not only damage to the fruit, but also the above-mentioned manilla rot, which completely degrades the fruit.

Fruit spider

Spider mites also attack several types of fruit trees, including plums. They are a risk to the health of trees, mainly due to extremely fast reproduction, which results in leaf damage. After their attacks, small spots form on them, which gradually devalue the entire leaf.

Aphids on plums

The presence of common aphids that remain on the plum is not dangerous for the tree. If the aphids are not overgrown, they are not dangerous for the fruits themselves. They will just be annoying and they will suck some juice from some plums. They can’t do much damage also because they are food for ladybirds, which reduce them in such a natural way.

Plum diseases: When are plums most susceptible?

  • When they suffer from a lack of sunlight.
  • When they have a bad ratio of moisture or bad fertilizer.
  • When they are not fertilized and they lack nutrients.
  • When facing sharp fluctuations in temperature and weather.
  • If we neglect their wintering before winter.
  • When they are planted in close proximity to other trees.
  • When we forget about regular care and prevention.

Plum diseases: All types of plums are endangered

Each of these diseases can spread across a range of plum species. The onset of a particular disease, of course, depends on the conditions in which the species is grown. In general, however, plums or ring lots are attacked by the same traps, whether in the form of diseases or pests. Because of this, there are the same proven ways to effectively protect your trees from these pitfalls.

Plum diseases: How can plum diseases be treated?

Fungicides

Diseases caused by selected fungal species can be treated with fungicides. Spraying with such preparations has at the same time a protective and preventive effect.

Copper preparations

Special copper preparations also apply to dangerous mushrooms. There are also protective substances in them, but they only work at the right time to apply a specific product.

Removal of diseased parts

Fallen leaves, destroyed fruits or infested branches can be a source of further spread of diseases. Therefore, they must be completely removed as soon as possible.

Delete the entire tree

It is not always possible to stop the spreading disease, which is especially true in the case of a plum brandy. When it occurs, the tree only needs to be cut and then burned.

Plum diseases: How to eliminate plum pests?

Insecticides

There are completely different tricks for pests than for the above-mentioned diseases. One of the most effective solutions is insecticides, which have a rapid elimination effect. However, their chemical composition is a problem. However, higher quality preparations are manufactured so that their application does not harm bees or other useful insect species.

Pheromone traps

Insecticides can be used in combination with pheromone traps. They use aromatic pheromones to attract unwanted pests to a single site, to which a particular insecticide is then applied. He will then take care of the destruction of all lured wrappers, mites or various other pests.

Parasitic nematodes

It will be possible to exterminate some pests without chemistry. This is especially true in the case of a plum wrapper. They will take care of e.g., parasitic nematodes, which are sprayed on the plum trunk and its branches. The nematodes will wait there for the larvae, which, after hatching, look for fruits where they would burrow. They then enter the body of the larvae, which they kill from the inside.

Plum diseases: Natural enemies

The biological method of elimination can also be combined with natural enemies of plum pests. While aphids are food for ladybirds, wrappers consume titmouse or other birds. Spider mites, on the other hand, have arch-enemies among bursts or predatory bugs.

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