Description of lilac diseases and pests - how to deal with them, treatment methods

Lilac is an ornamental shrub that people often grow in their summer cottages. Unfortunately, this process is accompanied by certain difficulties. Today there are many known diseases and pests of lilac that worsen the appearance of the crop and can lead to its death. In this case, the plant can be saved - it is important to carry out timely treatment with chemicals or folk remedies.

Protecting lilacs from pests

Lilac pests eat leaves, buds, flowers and branches. As a result, the development of the shrub slows down, fewer inflorescences are formed on it, and curvature of foliage and branches occurs.

Fighting lilac moth

This pest is also called pest. It is a butterfly with variegated wings and a brown-yellow body. At the same time, the lilacs are eaten by the caterpillars of this insect. They do not exceed 8 millimeters in length and are distinguished by a light green body and a red head. Caterpillars hatch from eggs in May. In this case, the larvae absorb the juice of the leaves and gnaw their pulp. After which a mesh in the form of veins remains.

To cope with parasites, the soil around the bushes needs to be dug up 10-15 centimeters. This is recommended to be done in spring and autumn. Thanks to this, it is possible to destroy moth pupae. Also, at the beginning and at the end of the season, bushes need to be treated with insecticides. For this, in particular, you can use Actellik. It is recommended to take 20 milliliters of the drug per 10 liters of water.

How to get rid of lilac mite

This is a very dangerous pest that can be very difficult to see with the naked eye. The insects measure 0.2 millimeters. The mite damages the lilac buds. As a result, they swell and then dry out on the branches. In addition, the parasite absorbs the juices of young leaves. It overwinters inside the buds, and with the arrival of spring it begins to reproduce. During the season, more than one generation of such pests may appear.

To eliminate the lilac mite, it is worth spraying the plantings with Carbolineum emulsion.Its concentration should be 6%. It is recommended to process lilacs in early spring. During the growing season, prepare a solution of the drug "Tiofos" with a concentration of 0.1%. Plantings should be sprayed in June during active reproduction of parasites. For prevention, seedlings need to be soaked in a barrel of water before planting.

Ways to combat acacia false scale

This parasite is an enemy of lilac and many other ornamental crops. It lives on thin branches, shoots and leaves. A cluster of Acacia false scale eggs looks like piles of white powder. In winter, the larvae accumulate on the lower parts of the branches and on the trunk. They are securely attached to the bark.

With the arrival of spring, even before the buds open, the larvae move to the upper parts of the crown and attach to the lower fragments of the branches, from where they absorb sap. This happens when the temperature increases to +6-7 degrees.

Large numbers of insects appear in late spring or early summer. The appearance of false scale insects causes drying of shoots and branches, impairs flowering, reduces decorative properties and impairs resistance to frost.

When a false scale insect appears on a shrub, after a few years it dries out completely. To protect the crop from parasites, it is necessary to promptly trim dry and infected branches, thin out the crown and remove shoots near the roots. It is also worth promptly removing moss, lichens and dead bark from old branches and trunks.

How to kill a weevil

These pests are glossy beetles that are 1.2 centimeters long. They are distinguished by their emerald color. These parasites eat bushes at night, morning and evening. During the daytime, they rest under the bark or at the bottom of the leaves.

Weevils cause damage to the bark and create shelters under it. They also eat the edges of leaves, turning them lacy.To cope with parasites, the bush needs to be treated with an insecticide. For this, it is permissible to use the drug “Kinmiks”. To prepare a working solution for 10 liters of water, you need to take 25 milliliters of the product. Fitoverm would also be a good solution. To do this, you need to take 20 milliliters of the substance per 10 liters of water.

Fighting apple comma scale

This is one of the most dangerous pests of lilacs. The parasite also leads to damage to ornamental, fruit and forest plants. The apple scale insect lives on branches and trunks. In more rare cases, it affects foliage.

The damage is caused by females and larvae that live under the shield. They are distinguished by their elongated shape and brown-brown color. The size of the pest does not exceed 4 millimeters. Insects lay eggs in August and September. In winter, they are located under a shield, which is located on branches and bark. In this case, pests lay larvae in May.

When the scale insect sucks out the juice, the branches begin to dry out, and the young crop quickly dies. If the crop is severely damaged, premature leaf fall occurs. To avoid damage to the plant, it is necessary to thin out the crown, remove root shoots, and get rid of dried and damaged branches. The systemic drug Ditox will help you cope with parasites. It destroys pests literally in the very first hours after spraying and is not washed off by precipitation.

How to get rid of rose leafhopper

This is a narrow insect that reaches a length of 3.5 millimeters and has yellow-green wings. Pest eggs overwinter in the bark on the upper parts of young shoots. The larvae appear when the leaves bloom. This occurs at the end of April or beginning of May. Parasites absorb leaf sap.As a result, they become covered with many white spots.

To cope with pests, it is recommended to use products such as Alfashance and Ditox. The drugs should be used in small quantities. Their effect manifests itself just a few hours after treatment. The compositions are not washed off by precipitation and remain effective even when the weather worsens.

Treatment of common lilac diseases

To save the bush, it is necessary to identify pathologies in time. At the same time, lilacs are exposed to various types of diseases.

Treatment of fungal diseases

Fungal pathologies are associated with the activity of microscopic fungi. Diseases usually spread in conditions of low temperatures and high humidity. They are caused by weakened immunity, which is provoked by an excess amount of nitrogen and a deficiency of potassium. As a result, the plant becomes susceptible to fungi.

A common cause of such pathologies is considered to be high soil moisture. Therefore, during the treatment of lilacs, it is necessary to normalize watering. The main types of fungal pathologies include the following:

1. Powdery mildew - when the disease develops, the lilac foliage becomes covered with a white coating. Initially, small white spots appear on the bushes. After some time, they grow and affect all the foliage. Gradually, the plaque becomes darker, and the bush stops developing. Both adult and young plants are susceptible to the disease. Symptoms are most often seen at the end of cool, damp summers.
2. Brown spotting - first, gray spots appear on the bushes, which have brown edges. Gradually the damage increases. In this case, the inside dries out and falls out. As a result, the leaves become covered with holes.
3. Anthracnose - pathology is accompanied by the appearance of brown spots on lilac foliage. The sores may be pink or orange with a purple border. The disease affects foliage, flowers and stems.
4. Septoria - the disease is accompanied by yellow or gray spots. Gradually it spreads, causing foliage to wither, shoot tips to dry out, and flowers to fall off.
5. Lichens - lead to the appearance of white spots on the trunk. Most often, plants with cracks in the bark and a dense crown suffer from this disease. Lilacs that are affected by lichen lag behind in development and suffer from other pathologies.

To cope with fungi, it is recommended to use copper-based products. These include copper sulfate and Bordeaux mixture. You can also use “Topaz”, “Ridomil”, “Skor”. Such products should be mixed with water and used to spray the bush. After 7-10 days, the procedure is repeated.

Fighting viral diseases

Such pathologies are associated with infection by pathogenic viruses. The first signs of disease appear in the spring, when the leaves bloom. At the same time, they become covered with dark spots and become deformed. The main viral pathologies of lilac include the following:

1. Ring mottling - the appearance of pathology can be suspected by light spots and streaks on the leaves. Gradually, the lesion affects the entire leaf blade. Whiteflies and nematodes lead to the spread of the virus.
2. Ring spot - accompanied by rounded chlorotic spots that affect the leaves. Signs of the disease appear in early summer and in the first half of autumn. After a year, the branches dry out and die. The disease is spread by nematodes.
3. Chlorotic leaf spot – causes leaf damage. At the same time, light patterns appear on them.

Viral infections cannot be cured. At the initial stages of their development, it is necessary to tear off the affected fragments and add potassium and phosphorus. If this does not produce results, the bush will have to be removed and the soil treated with disinfectants.

Treatment of mycoplasma diseases

The most common ailment in this category is paniculation. This pathology is characterized by the appearance of “witches’ brooms.” In this case, the shoots that are located on the sides begin to actively develop, but internodes are not formed. As a result, the branches resemble small bushes, the leaves decrease in size, and the entire plant becomes dwarf and gradually dies.

To avoid such problems, it is recommended to buy only high-quality seedlings and remove dwarf bushes and weeds.

Methods for treating bacterial diseases

Such pathologies are caused by single-celled microorganisms that absorb lilac juices and tissues. The main bacterial diseases include:

1. Bacterial rot of shoots - in this case, lilac leaves turn black. Young shoots, buds and flowers may also suffer. Infection actively spreads in damaged areas.
2. Necrosis - pathology provokes the destruction of the lilac bark, causes the death of shoots and leads to the death of the bush. The risk of infection increases in severe frosts, dry weather and when the bush is damaged by pests.

When symptoms of bacterial rot appear, the bush must be treated with a solution of copper oxychloride with a concentration of 5%. The treatment should be repeated after 10 days. To cope with necrosis, you need to carefully remove the infected areas and treat the bush with fungicides.

Prevention and protection of lilacs from diseases and pests

To avoid lilac damage by pathologies and parasites, it is recommended to do the following:

• choose only high-quality seedlings;
• perform sanitary pruning of shoots;
• remove fallen leaves;
• monitor the condition of the cortex;
• systematically apply mineral fertilizers;
• observe the dosage of nitrogen preparations;
• dig up the soil in the fall;
• periodically treat lilacs with special preparations.

Lilac is a common ornamental plant that often suffers from diseases and pests. To cope with problems, it is important to take action on time.