How to find out why sea buckthorn leaves turn yellow in summer and eliminate the cause of the problem
Yellowing of sea buckthorn leaves in summer is a problem that gardeners often encounter. Timely identification and relief of the cause will help return the bush to a healthy state. Why sea buckthorn leaves turn yellow in summer will be discussed in this article.
Why does sea buckthorn turn yellow in summer?
Yellowing of sea buckthorn leaves in the summer season indicates that negative changes are occurring with the plant.
There are several reasons for this phenomenon:
- lack of nutrition;
- illness;
- pests;
- unfavorable environmental conditions;
- agrotechnical errors.
There are few diseases in sea buckthorn that cause yellowing of the foliage, but all infections have a detrimental effect on the condition of the bush and can lead to its death the very next season.
Insect pests, incorrect agricultural practices, cold summers - all these reasons disrupt the natural development of sea buckthorn and cause premature wilting and yellowing of the leaves.
Having determined the cause in time, it is easy to bring sea buckthorn back to normal.
What to do if sea buckthorn turns yellow
Having determined the cause of the yellowing of the foliage, they begin to eliminate the problem and restore the viability of the plant.
How to find out the cause and eliminate it
Each cause has its own consequences. It is by these sometimes indirect signs that the source of the poor condition of sea buckthorn is determined.
Lack of nutrition
The process of photosynthesis, which turns leaves green, can be disrupted due to nitrogen deficiency.This leads to yellowing of the leaves of a healthy shrub.
Nitrogen deficiency can occur even when there is sufficient nitrogen in the soil. Dry and cold weather makes it difficult to absorb nutrients from the soil.
But if weather conditions are normal, and the foliage turns yellow, and there are no other signs, you should fertilize the roots with the following solutions:
- 120 g of urea per 10 liters of water;
- 20 g of ammonium nitrate per 10 liters of water.
Spraying foliage with a urea solution also has a positive effect. To prepare the solution, 30 g of urea and 10 liters of water are required.
Diseases
If the yellowing of the foliage is associated with a disease, it is necessary to urgently take measures to cure sea buckthorn.
An advanced disease will lead to the death of the plant. It is easy to identify the disease by its symptoms.
Scab
A fungal disease that affects not only foliage, but also shoots and fruits. Yellow-brown spots appear on the leaves. Over time, they turn black and begin to shine. The leaves turn yellow and dry out, the fruits become mummified.
Important! The first step towards recovery is the collection and destruction of all affected leaves and fruits. If this is not done, in the spring the fungus that overwintered on the fallen leaves will become active and again infect the sea buckthorn.
Measures to combat scab include spraying the entire plant with a copper-soap solution. For this, 10 g of copper sulfate and 2 tbsp. l. washing powder is diluted in 10 liters of water.
Spraying with Avixil solution has also worked well - 30 g per 10 liters of water. Processing is carried out once.
Verticillium wilt
A fungal disease that attacks shrubs aged 5 to 8 years. Green foliage remains exclusively at the top of the plant. All other leaves turn yellow and fall off.The fruits acquire a bright shade, but at the same time wither.
The fight against this disease is carried out in stages:
- removal and destruction of diseased branches;
- thinning sea buckthorn plantings;
- spraying with Bordeaux mixture 2 times a year - in spring and autumn;
- If a problem is detected, treat with any remedy for fungal diseases.
If preventive measures and treatment do not produce results, the bush must be removed along with the roots and burned. Sea buckthorn can be planted in the same place after 5 years.
Fusarium wilt
The foliage on the bushes turns yellow completely, dries out and falls off much earlier than expected. Fusarium is a very dangerous disease and it is difficult to cure.
There is only one method of control - cutting and destroying the affected branches. If this does not stop the disease, all bushes are removed from the soil and burned.
Pests
One of the reasons for summer yellowing of foliage is insect pests. Constantly monitoring sea buckthorn will help you react to their appearance in time.
Sea buckthorn aphid
In addition to the presence of insects on the underside of the leaf, a sign of the appearance of aphids is the premature yellowing of the leaf, its curling and falling. The pest sucks the juice from young leaves.
Any modern insecticide is effective against aphids. It should be used exclusively according to the instructions.
Those who are against the use of chemicals can spray the plant with folk remedies. To do this, use an infusion of tobacco with onion or garlic peels, tomato or potato tops, and dandelion leaves. Add 30 g of laundry soap to the infusion and dilute it in 10 liters of water.
Sea buckthorn grass
The larvae of the honeydew live on the underside of leaves and feed on their sap.The greens turn yellow, wither and fall off.
The method of control is spraying. At the end of May, the plant is sprayed with a solution of Karbofos - 30 g per 10 liters of water. After 5 days, it is necessary to treat with colloidal sulfur - 100 g per 10 liters.
Unfavorable environmental conditions
If the foliage turns yellow due to a cold or rainy summer, the plant will not be able to be helped. The maximum that the owner can do is to apply a minimum of root fertilizers so that the tree bears fruit well next year.
Agrotechnical errors
Ignorance of the characteristics of sea buckthorn and improper care of the plant can lead to diseases and yellowing of the foliage.
The most common mistakes include:
- Planting sea buckthorn in the shadow. Being a light-loving plant, in the shade it stretches out and gives a weak harvest. Leaves deprived of sunlight take on a yellowish tint.
- Superficial deepening of roots during planting. Leads to their drying out in hot weather. Without moisture, the leaves wither and turn yellow.
- Irregular removal of overgrowth. With high humidity, it is in dense thickets that fungi actively develop, causing sea buckthorn diseases.
- Lack or excess of fertilizers. A strong plant will not grow on depleted soil, but excess fertilizer can burn sea buckthorn. Only by following the norm will it be possible to grow a healthy bush without yellow foliage and with large fruits.
What to do if the leaves turn yellow and fall off
When leaves turn yellow and fall, it is first necessary to exclude diseases of the bush.
If the sea buckthorn is healthy and there are no insect pests on it, it may be a lack of fertilizer or lack of moisture, especially in the hot summer.
All this applies to plants that have been growing on the site for several years. Young bushes lose their foliage due to an incorrectly chosen planting site or unsuitable soil.
If the fruits fall off
Sea buckthorn berries fall off before ripening due to disease or insect damage.
If the bushes are healthy and an external inspection does not reveal pests, the causes of shedding may be:
- mechanical damage to the roots or the plant itself;
- drought;
- cold;
- lack of water and nutrients;
To avoid loss of foliage and berries on sea buckthorn, it is necessary to provide it with proper care and supervision. If you do not neglect preventive measures, you can grow a strong shrub that bears fruit every year.
Preventive measures
The most effective measure to protect sea buckthorn from diseases and pests is spraying the bush.
To prevent the appearance of insects, you must:
- in autumn and spring, treat with Bordeaux mixture;
- at the end of May, spray the plant with a solution of Karbofos - 30 g per 10 liters of water;
- Always have insecticides on hand to treat the bush as soon as insects appear on it.
To avoid fungal diseases that cause yellowing of foliage, follow these rules:
- regularly thin out the bushes;
- nitrogenous fertilizers are applied annually;
- sprayed with Bordeaux mixture twice a year - in spring and autumn;
- remove dried branches.
Advice from experienced gardeners
Experienced gardeners will tell you what to do to prevent sea buckthorn from turning yellow:
- Apply fertilizers and minerals in a timely manner.
- Water the bush regularly.
- Carefully loosen the soil so as not to touch the surface roots of sea buckthorn.
- Annually trim overgrown plants.
- Carry out preventive spraying in early spring and late autumn.
- Constantly inspect sea buckthorn for pests.
This is interesting:
Guide to planting sea buckthorn seedlings in spring
Conclusion
Premature yellowing of sea buckthorn foliage can be caused by diseases, pests, improper care, and even bad weather conditions.
Constant care of the bush and preventive measures will help avoid this trouble.