Withered leaves and dry branches are a sign that something is wrong with the golden elm. Why is that and detailed care tips here.
While the other elms suffer from diseases comparatively often, the golden elm (Ulmus hollandica 'Wredei') is rather robust. Nevertheless, this ornamental tree is not entirely spared from diseases, pests and fungi. You can read here what damage can occur and what you can do yourself to keep your golden elm he althy.Danger from the Elm Bark Beetle
The elm bark beetle can cause great damage to the elm trees. The feeding tunnels created by the beetles weaken the plant. The elm can often no longer absorb enough liquid and bacteria and fungi have an easy time. Since the ducts are created in the trunk as well as in the branches of the plant, the entire tree is affected.
In order to detect the infestation as early as possible and to be able to intervene accordingly, regular checks on the golden elm are necessary. If you discover dry branches and twigs, you should remove them immediately. If all of the branches and trunk are affected, it is best to fell the tree to prevent the disease from spreading to other plants.
If the plant is diseased, it should be cut back immediately, regardless of the season. Whether the measures were successful will be seen next spring when the golden elm sprouts fresh.
Tip: Assassin bugs and chrysanthemums are natural predators of the elm bark beetle.
Elm disease caused by fungi and pests
Elm disease is far less common in the golden elm than in the other elm species. The tree can usually be prevented from dying if the hobby gardener is attentive and recognizes changes in the plant and knows how to treat them. The disease occurs particularly during the growing season. The elm bark beetle just described may be responsible for Dutch elm disease. Through its feeding ducts, this promotes the penetration of the ascomycete, which weakens the plant to such an extent that if left untreated, the tree dies.
What are the warning signs to look out for?
- brown leaves
- dried upLeaves
- Feeding alleys on the woods
- dead branches
- Rolling up the leaves
- dead leaves don't fall to the ground
If you don't intervene in time, the golden elm cannot get enough liquid and usually dies over the course of the summer. The course of the disease often extends over several years.
What to do?
Dry twigs and leaves must be removed immediately. The plant must be treated with a special antifungal and anti-pest agent. If the disease has already progressed too far, the tree must be felled.
The gall mite - a lesser evil
Bali mites are difficult to see with the naked eye. The small pests grow to a maximum of half a millimeter and feed on the plant juices that are sucked from the leaves and buds. Gall mites are particularly active in spring and early summer.
How to recognize the gall mite?
The gall mite infestation becomes evident in the form of roundish and reddish colored galls, which appear on the upper side of the leaves. The small gall openings are visible on the underside of the leaves. These have whitish hairs. The leaves appear deformed over time and curl up at the edges.
What to do?
The gall mite does not pose a major threat to the tree. An infestation can already be seen in spring. The buds then appear particularly thick and swollen. The affected buds must be removed immediately.
Note: Up to 30,000 mites can nest in a bud, which lay about 20,000 ones there.
A tansy decoction effectively combats the gall mite. The trees are sprayed with it several times. Furthermore, predatory mites act as natural predators.
Golden elm: Winter quarters for gall aphids
Actually, the gall aphid favors pear trees. Bladder lice are therefore also known as pear blood lice. The eggs are laid in the bark of the elm trees, where the eggs overwinter. The offspring are born without previous fertilization. The lice suck on the undersides of the leaves. The leaves curl and deform. The lice stay in bladder galls the size of potatoes.
In late summer, the winged lice move to nearby pear trees. These are used as a summer host. The wingless offspring suck the roots of the pear trees. Hence the name pear blood louse. In the fall, winged lice returnback to the elm. Aphids of both sexes develop there. After mating, eggs are laid. A winter egg disappears into the bark of the elm.
What to do?
The damage is classified as minor. The golden elm mostly only serves as winter quarters. The infestation can be controlled with suitable pesticides. If there are no pear trees in the vicinity, the probability that the golden elm will be infested by the gall aphid is rather low.
Voles - the undiscovered danger
If voles are out and about in the garden, you usually notice them too late. Often they have already attacked the roots of the golden elm and you may be wondering why the tree is beginning to ail for no apparent reason. If you want to protect yourself from voles, you can use a metal grid around the roots when planting. If this is neglected, only traps or poison baits will help.
How to avoid care mistakes
It is not uncommon for care errors to be the cause of ailing plants. The golden elm requires a relatively large amount of moisture. If the wood is too dry, it tends to discolour the leaves and drop them.
Tip: First check whether the soil has really dried out. The signs mentioned can also stand for fungal infestation or pests.
If the soil is too moist, however, waterlogging can occur if the liquid cannot drain off. Due to the high water requirement of the plant, this can be difficult to assess and you should check the condition of the soil between the individual waterings. Already during planting, soil that is too heavy should be loosened accordingly.
He althy golden elm through proper care
| Care measure | What to do? |
|---|---|
| Select location | • Choose a sunny to semi-shady location. • If the golden elm is in the shade, it loses its characteristic leaf colour. • If the plant is left unprotected in the blazing midday sun, the leaves can burn. • So that the golden elm can develop well, a unique position is favoured. |
| Soil Preparation | • The plant will thrive less well in poor soil. • The soil should be nutritious and loose. • A calcareous soil is tolerated. • Heavy Soil must be loosened before planting to improve permeability. |
| Casting | • Golden elms have a tallWater requirements. • Young plants in particular should be watered regularly. • Older plants absorb sufficient liquid through their roots and only need to be watered if they are dry for a long time. |
| Fertilize | • The high nutrient requirement can be met by adding compost. • A complete fertilizer can be used during the growing season. • Fertilizers are no longer used after August. |