Photinia diseases - how to prevent worse

Photinia diseases are rare and often harmless. Here are a few first aid tips in case your Photinia Devil's Dream® does get affected.

Recognition, prevention and control of diseases in medlars

Pittosporum diseases do not always lead to the death of a plant. Often, the cause can be easily eliminated or eventually disappears on its own. Nevertheless, it is frustrating when a beautifully grown hedge plant gets unsightly marks. Thankfully, with the right measures, you can prevent this, and even if a pest has taken a liking to your Pittosporum or a disease is affecting your Photinia Devil's Dream®, there are ways to help your beloved glowing red corner.

What diseases and pests affect the Photinia Fraseri?

Photinia Fraseri is resilient and a challenge for all types of pests. However, it is still possible for a fungal disease, bacterial infection, or pest to take hold. Here is a brief overview of possible diseases affecting Photinia Fraseri.

  • Powdery mildew
  • apple scab
  • leaf browning
  • fire blight
  • root rot
  • damage caused by aphids, weevils, and others.
Devil's dream high hedge with red leaves

How to recognize diseases in Photinia?

Each Photinia disease has different signs. Some cause spots, others discolor the whole leaf. There are also diseases that cause a coating. Leaf loss and curled leaves are also indicators. Hole-riddled leaves are a sign of pest damage.

Devils Dream plants in the foil tunnel
Devils Dream plants in the foil tunnel

Spots and discoloration caused by apple scab, leaf browning, and fire blight

Even though most diseases in Photinia are harmless, it is important to intervene early to prevent significant visual damage to your hedge plants. This also ensures that the entire hedge and neighboring plants are not infected. Monitor your Photinia Devil's Dream® closely. If you notice greenish to grayish spots, apple scab is spreading. Reddish or black discolorations are typical for leaf browning. Leaves that turn black, wilt, and appear burned are dreaded by many garden lovers. This is a sure sign of fire blight infestation.

 

Root damage: When Photinia loses its leaves

If the leaves of your Photinia hedge are falling off, it could be due to an excessive apple scab infestation or root rot. What to do in case of root rot? In the latter case, the plant is not receiving sufficient water due to the damaged roots. The larvae of the vine weevil can also damage the roots.

Powdery mildew: one of the most common diseases of medlar

How does your Photinia Devil's Dream® appear when it is affected by powdery mildew, as if covered with a layer of flour? This fungal disease is one of the most common in gardens. There are two types of powdery mildew: true and false. The false type leaves gray to violet discolorations on the underside of the leaves, while yellow spots form on the upper side. True powdery mildew causes a large-scale white coating.

 

Powdery mildew: one of the most common diseases of medlar

If your Photinia is sick, it is usually due to unfavorable conditions. Nutrient deficiencies or overexposure can also weaken the plant. Here are a few tips on how to ensure that your Photinia Devil’s Dream® remains free from diseases.

 

Devils Dream hedge with red leaves as a bed border

Powdery mildew loves moisture

When summer is rainy and the plant is weakened, powdery mildew spreads quickly. It needs high humidity to grow. Therefore, it is important to place your Photinia Devil's Dream® in the sun or at most in partial shade. Dispose of infected leaves and fertilize according to recommendations. A weakened Photinia will also be grateful for the application of horsetail decoction.

 

Apple scab: Regular monitoring is important!

The apple scab pathogen also thrives in high humidity. Especially in a warm and humid climate, it spreads rapidly. Remove infected leaves immediately and dispose of them in the household waste. Please do not put them in the organic waste or compost, as apple scab is one of the highly contagious diseases of photinia that also affects other plant species! If you cannot control the fungus by removing the leaves, ask a specialized retailer for a fungicide. As a preventive measure, ensure that your Photinia Devil's Dream® is well nourished and placed in a suitable location.

Proper watering to combat leaf browning and other glossy medlar diseases

Water your Photinia Fraseri only from below to keep the leaves dry. This way, they are not attractive to fungi. This applies to almost all diseases of Photinia that are caused by fungi. Give the plant a nettle infusion; it makes it more resistant. If your Photinia hedge is already affected by leaf scorch, you can use a copper sulphate product from a specialist store to combat it.

 

One of the most feared diseases of Photinia: Fire blight. Battle the aphids!

The fungal disease is promoted by a bacterium that is transmitted by aphids. To prevent fire blight, you must therefore fight the aphids! This is best done with proven home remedies. These include:

  • garlic, oregano, onion or nettle, rhubarb leaves.
  • Black tea
  • A mixture of water and rapeseed oil or water and milk
  • Horsetail extract
  • Dishwashing liquid
  • Vinegar mixture

Another twist against Photinia diseases: Make your garden attractive to beneficial insects such as ladybugs, earwigs, parasitic wasps, lacewings, and gall midges. Their larvae feed on aphids.

Devils Dream hedge with flower and red leaves
Devils Dream in the foil tunnel
Devils Dream in the foil tunnel
Devils Dream Hedge in the Garden
Devils Dream Hedge in the Garden

Root rot due to excessively moist soil

The same fungus that causes this disease is responsible for the Dutch: schorsrot. It thrives in heavy soil that tends to become waterlogged. Make sure that your Photinia Devil's Dream® is planted in a well-draining substrate. If the soil is too heavy, you can improve the situation by installing drainage and incorporating sand or gravel. This is also important if the plant is growing in a container. If your Photinia is already infected, you can save it by digging it up, removing the affected parts, and replanting it in suitable substrate.

 

Combat pests such as vine weevils and others

In addition to aphids, vine weevils are the most persistent pests in the garden. They also do not spare the robust Photinia fraseri, making them one of the most common diseases of the Chinese photinia. The beetles eat the leaves, while the larvae attack the roots. You can combat adult specimens by picking them off. If you want to go hunting, you will need a flashlight, as the vine weevil is nocturnal. Once you have discovered the crawlers, place pots prepared with wood wool. The beetles will spend the day in them and you can dispose of them. The larvae can be combated with nematodes from specialized stores. The squeezed seeds of the neem tree are also effective. The ingredient is toxic to the pests. The same goes for nematodes, so it is important to choose one of these two methods. As with other diseases of the Chinese photinia, it is also helpful to seek assistance in the fight against vine weevils. Make your garden attractive to shrews, hedgehogs, moles, toads, birds, and lizards. The vine weevil is high on their menu.