Apple tree is, perhaps, the most traditional and habitual inhabitant of our garden. All of us since childhood so love juicy apples . But sometimes we see the red twisted leaves appear on the apple tree. This raises a lot of questions: is it dangerous? why did this happen? how to deal with such a disaster? We will try to understand the situation and find ways to solve the problem.
Causes of red leaves on apple
The reasons why there are red leaves appear on apple trees, there are several. The main ones are:
- Lack of nutrients. And one of the three - magnesium, phosphorus or manganese - can be missing. With a lack of magnesium, the lower leaves begin to blush, and they blush, starting from the middle. Gradually, the edges of the leaves also become purplish red. The danger of a lack of magnesium is that the apple tree tolerates winter better.
- When there is a lack of phosphorus, the leaves lose their saturated green color first, they acquire a bronze outflow, and then the petioles and veins become reddish. Blossoming apple trees with phosphorus deficiency later laid, and fruits mature for longer. The cold resistance of trees also falls.
- In the absence of manganese, the top leaves of apple trees are covered with red or white spots. At the same time yield decreases, and the taste of apples is lost, becoming fresh.
- Pests are the second reason why the apple tree has red leaves. And the first on the list is the apple aphid. The insect lays eggs in the bark of the apple tree, and in the spring the larvae feed on its juices, causing the leaves to wither, twist, turn red with a cherry or yellowish tinge.
- Mechanical damage can also cause redness of the leaves on the apple tree. For example, if the barrel is drawn with a wire or a fishing line. The leaves of the corresponding part of the tree acquire a crimson color.
Methods of combating red leaves on apple
It is important to correctly determine why the apple tree leaves are covered with red spots, then immediately proceed to treatment.
So, if the reason for the shortage of nutrients:
- Magnesium deficiency is treated by spraying the apple tree every 10 days with a solution of magnesium sulfate (20 g magnesium per 10 liters of water), 4 sprayings are allowed;
- lack of phosphorus can be compensated for by feeding phosphorite or superphosphate;
- with a shortage of manganese spraying with a solution of manganese sulphate before and after the bud blossoming.
With pests fighting with insecticides and home-made recipes like decoction of tobacco, chamomile and citrus. If you can not understand why red spots appear on the leaves of the apple tree, inspect the tree for mechanical damage and, if possible, exclude this harmful effect.