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Is this blight on Photinia?
abigail400
Posts: 2
Hi everyone!
I'm worried that my Photinia red robin has fire blight. It seems pretty sick. It's growing new leaves but I'd say on the shadier side of the shrub the leaves are turning brown one by one, with entire branches including new growth shriveling up. Some of the twigs are dead when I cut them back but some are still green. I think I've found a couple of cankers on one of the main branches.
I've been feeding it with seaweed once a month since march and have sprayed the leaves weekly with invigorator. This doesn't seem to be making a difference.
From the pictures, does anyone have an idea of what might be going on? Does it look like blight to you? Thanks for any help!
0
Posts
I don't know much about fireblight, but I came across this -
Fire blight is a bacterial disease, bacterium Erwinia amylovora, that can effect Photinia's but mainly firebright kills apple and pear trees and ornimental grasses.
Fire Blight bacteria attacks the shoots and leaves, it turns them a light brown colour and crisp to the touch. Early signs are that the leaf edges will turn black, they will then turn brown and spread to the center of the leaf. The infection is often spread from one part of the tree to another or from one tree to another by insects and splashing rain. Fire Blight can effect the photinia's between late spring up until autumn.
If you suspect your plant is starting to get fire bright on a leaf, there is a sure tell, trace back from the leaf 5 to 10 cm and scrape away the bark, if it is a red - brown colour, then your tree is infected. If it is white, then it is ok.
It can be controlled without chemicals.Trace back from the effected area, scraping the bark every 5 cm until it is white / yellow in colour. From the last point measure another 30cm and remove the branch at this point. Repeat until you have cut away all effected areas. Be very carefull not to contaminate other areas while removing the infected. It is best to burn the infected, disposal can be difficult otherwise.
If you do get a case of Fire Blight it is appropiate to contact your appropiate plant health authority. If in the UK you can contact D.E.F.R.A. and report your case on the risk register, if the case is small, no further action will be taken.
From here-
https://gardenseeker.co.uk/shrubs/photinia-fraserii-red-robin.html#:~:text=Fire%20Blight%20can%20effect%20the,white%2C%20then%20it%20is%20ok.
Billericay - Essex
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