Which fungal diseases occur in thuja?

Which fungal diseases occur in thuja?

Fungal diseases of thuja

Four types of fungi attack the thuja:

  • Pestalotiopsis funerea
  • Didymascella thujina
  • Kabatina thujae
  • Armillaria mellea (honey fungus infestation)

also read

  • Which diseases turn the thuja black?
  • Which pests attack a thuja hedge?
  • Which thuja grows the fastest?

Instinct death

The shoot death is caused by Pestalotiopsis funerea. Symptoms of an infestation are the brown discoloration of the tip, which slowly spreads to the entire shoot. Later black spots form, the shoot dries up and dies.

Needle and flake tan

Didymascella thujina and Kabatina thujae lead to browning of the needles and scales, whereby Kabatina thujae mainly affects young leaves and tips. Initially, the symptoms of the infestation appear as small spots on needles and scales. They spread further and lead to the death of the whole instinct.

Thuja dying

Armillaria mellea is responsible for the dreaded thuja death. This fungus is characterized by a white network that can be found between the bark and wood. The thuja dies very quickly after an infestation and can no longer be saved.

What to do if the thuja is infected with fungus?

If there is a slight fungal attack that is recognized in good time, it helps to cut off the infected shoots generously and dispose of them in the household waste.

If the arborvitae hedge suffers from Armillaria mellea, you can try to fight the fungus with a fungicide. This is administered according to the instructions on the packaging. However, control is only successful if the fungal attack is recognized in the early stages.

Prevention of fungal attack on the thuja hedge

Fungal spores particularly like to spread on the tree of life when there is moisture. You should therefore water in the morning if possible so that the thuja can dry off during the day. Avoid wetting the leaves and trunk.

Occasionally thin out the trees carefully to improve air circulation in the hedge. Cut out dry branches that are growing sideways.

Tips

Thuja cuttings infected with fungi never belong on the compost. They are disposed of with household waste or - if possible - immediately burned in the garden.