Leyland cypress has become one of the most popular landscape plants in Georgia, especially for screens and hedges. Unfortunately, several diseases attack Leylands that may kill individual branches or entire plants. These diseases are Seiridium canker and Botryosphaeria stem canker. Seiridium canker attacks Leyland plants of all sizes and ages. Cankers may form on stems, branches and in branch axils causing twig, branch or stem dieback. Cankers appear as sunken, dark brown or purplish patches on the bark, often accompanied by extensive resin or sap flow. Scattered twigs or branches killed by the fungus turn bright reddish brown, and are in striking contrast to the dark green healthy foliage. Fruiting bodies of the fungus appear on the bark surface of the cankers as small circular black dots barely visible to the naked eye. Spores of the fungus are spread to other parts of an infected tree, or from tree to tree by water that is splashed from rain or irrigation. The fungus can also be spread from tree to tree on pruning tools. Long distance spread occurs through the transport of infected cuttings or plants. Avoiding water stress and wounding of the plants may reduce infection. Infected branches or twigs should be pruned and destroyed as soon as symptoms are noted. Prune at least one inch below the canker, and sterilize the pruning tools between cuts by dipping them in rubbing alcohol or in a solution of 1-part chlorine bleach to 9 parts water. Botryosphaeria Stem Canker (Bot…
*This content (including text, artwork, graphics, photography, and video) was provided by the third party(ies) as referenced above. Any rights or other content questions or inquiries should be directed to such third-party provider(s).
