Content
- Lilac loses leaves - what helps?
- These causes can be behind the loss of leaves
- water shortage
- waterlogging
- Diseases
- pest infestation
- Tips
If the lilac drops its leaves prematurely, measures must be taken
Lilac loses leaves - what helps?
If the lilac (bot. Syringa vulgaris) loses its leaves in autumn, that is no cause for concern. An autumnal leaf loss is quite normal, as the bush is only deciduous and from October gradually changed into hibernation.
These causes can be behind the loss of leaves
It looks different, however, when the lilac throws the leaves in the middle of summer or not even get any. In this case there is a serious problem behind it, whose cause should be found and eliminated.
water shortage
Especially in hot periods of drought, a lack of water in the lilac is quickly noticeable: the shrub then leaves its leaves first and gradually dries up. Later, the leaves are dropped to reduce evaporation. The ornamental wood has very large leaves that condense a lot of water. A lack of water can be eliminated by vigorous watering, but you should not wet the leaves - otherwise mildew could attach to it.
waterlogging
But before you reach for the watering can, you should check once again whether water shortage is actually the correct reason for the sheet shedding. More often, too much moisture or even waterlogging is the cause, as a result, the roots rot and the overground foliage can not provide sufficient. If the damage has not progressed too far, you may be able to save the shrub by pruning and moving to another location, but in many cases clearing is inevitable.
Diseases
If the leaves turn brown before discarding or get brown spots, then a fungus is the cause. In addition to a fungicidal infection but also bacteria (eg wilting bacteria or the more common lilac epidemic) are behind it. In order to treat the lilac, you must cut back the affected parts of the plant to healthy wood and collect all fallen leaves on the ground. These must either be disposed of with household waste or incinerated, but must never land on the compost.
pest infestation
The larvae of the Fliederminiermotte feed on the leaves of the lilac. First of all, they recognize an infestation by causing the leaves to turn brown, to curl up, dry up and eventually fall off. In the current year, a treatment other than picking up fallen leaves is not necessary. In the following year you can inject Neem to the leaf shoot.
Tips
If lilacs are not cut for many years, you will gradually blot off. This is not a sign of a disease, but a normal aging. The shrub can be rejuvenated by a spirited pruning.