Content
- Do not be afraid of lichens on cherry trees
- Worth knowing about lichens
- Lichen as an indicator of the good air
- Are the lichens harmful to cherry trees?
- Tips & Tricks
Do not be afraid of lichens on cherry trees
Lichen on cherry trees are harmless. They settle on trunk and branches, sometimes look a bit bizarre in their variety of colors, but have no influence on the health and yield of the cherry trees.
Worth knowing about lichens
The lichens are a symbiosis of fungi and green algae or cyanobacteria (commonly referred to as blue-green algae). They grow on the bark of trees without penetrating the interior of the wood. They are not parasites and therefore have no negative impact on the health of their host plant.
In central Europe, there are about 2,000 species of lichen, about 1,500 of which are found in Germany. The lichens grow very slowly, so are clearly perceived only on the older trees. Lichen can get very old.
Lichen as an indicator of the good air
The lichens thrive only where the air pollution is low. If lichens are noticeable on the cherry trees in the garden, this is a sure sign of improving the quality of the surrounding air.As the lichens absorb their nutrients and water from the air, they react sensitively to any change in the air.
Are the lichens harmful to cherry trees?
There are - as so often - different opinions on this question. It will u. a. pointed to the dangers of lichen attack for the young shoots, which would thereby affect their growth. Furthermore, the surfaces of lichens are to offer hibernation hiding places for pests and, overall, indicate a poor care of cherry trees.
Furthermore, the lichen is said to have the ability to bind the precipitation moisture and thereby promote pathogens. In addition, the infestation of the cherry trees by lichens on insufficient growth and thus indicate unfavorable location and / or insufficient nutrient supply.
Tips & Tricks
Due to their modest demands, the lichens often conquer extreme habitats, such as rusted metal, rock or plastic surfaces.