The leaves of the apple tree turn yellow: causes and treatment
There are many reasons for the yellowing of foliage on apple trees. This may be the impact of pests, as well as metabolic disorders. By the nature of yellowing, an experienced gardener can easily establish a diagnosis and take measures to eliminate this negative phenomenon.
Causes of yellowing leaves
The yellowness of apple leaves can be caused by several factors:
- pathogenic microbes;
- fungus;
- abnormal heat.
The yellowness of the leaves and covering them with dark spots is caused by scab, it is also called brown spotting. If the "process has begun", then under some circumstances the foliage may completely fly around already in the middle of summer.
It is possible to fight scab in the following ways: the tree is sprayed with Bordeaux liquid (copper sulfate of about a hundred grams is dissolved in a bucket of water, a little lime is added). Then the operation is repeated a couple of times with a difference of two weeks. It can also be treated with copper chloride. Forty grams of the composition is dissolved in a bucket of water. With this composition, the tree is processed almost every day. In this case, apples are not subject to spraying. Treatment with Bordeaux liquid is done immediately after an infection is detected.
If the plant lacks phosphorus or iron, then the leaves dry at the edges, wither already in the middle of summer.
This slows down the overall growth and ripening of fruits.If suddenly in the month of May yellow spots appeared on the leaves, then it is likely that the apple tree is affected by a mosaic: the leaves become a pronounced light yellow color, they turn more yellow and eventually fall off. If the mosaic is not neutralized in time, then the apple tree will simply die. The hawthorn mite feeds on buds and foliage, sucking the necessary juices from the plant. The leaves in this case also turn yellow and dry out. Fruit rot affects the fruits, also from this scourge the leaves turn yellow on the tree in the middle of summer.
If the tree does not have enough moisture after planting, then the leaves also turn yellow. Apple trees do not grow well in soils dominated by sand. Also, clayey and too acidic soils are completely unsuitable for this wonderful plant. Unfavorable soil affects the growth and general well-being of the apple tree. Poor soil contributes to the manifestation of yellowness of the leaves at the beginning of the warm season, provokes poor yields.
If such a problem appears, then it is imperative to loosen the soil, fertilize and water the tree well.
After planting an apple seedling, fertilizers are applied constantly, but only after the plant has taken root and after at least three years. An adult tree needs one watering per month. We must not forget that fertilizers dissolve better and nourish the plant in moist soil. An apple tree necessarily requires 200 - 450 grams of a phosphorus supplement, it is applied during irrigation (in a liquid substance). An apple tree can have enough iron if the tree is sprayed with iron sulfate, at the same time it is a powerful bactericidal agent against pathogens and mites.
Summer
At the beginning of summer, in the month of June, if the leaves of an apple tree turn yellow, then there may be several reasons. The most common of these are weather factors:
- the beginning of summer turned out to be dry and the plant lacks moisture;
- too much rain, too much watering, too much stagnant water.
If the leaves turn yellow, then watering should be suspended, it cannot be done in sunlight, the drops turn into lenses, a burn may occur on the foliage. Herbicides (weed control compounds) can also cause a bright green-yellow color. If such a substance has fallen on the leaves of a tree, they should certainly be washed with water.
Leaves can dry out due to pests that have settled in the leaf itself.
You can see them when you look closely under a magnifying glass. To combat such parasites, the chemical composition of Aktara is used. Watering is recommended twice, with a time difference of two weeks. It is also necessary to feed the plant in order to increase its resistant qualities and stimulate a better metabolism. To prevent the penetration of pests, the trunk is treated with the chemical composition "Fufanon". Leaves that are affected by pests should be cut off from the branches and burned.
In June - July, moles are activated, if they appeared on the site, then the probability of damage to the root system of the tree is high. It is easy to find them by the characteristic mounds on the surface of the earth. The trap is one of the effective methods for the elimination of these animals. Sometimes there is a necrotic oncological lesion of the apple tree, the foliage becomes as if it had been doused with acid. Nothing can be done here, such an apple tree should be liquidated and burned.
spring
In the month of May, sometimes some leaves of the apple tree curl up and fall off. Most often, the culprit of this ailment is aphids, which pull the juices from the leaves. Aphids prefer to accumulate at the ends of branches; against this scourge, the compositions "Confidor", "Spark" can be effectively used. Since ancient times, tincture of wormwood or garlic has been used. Also in the spring, chlorosis may appear, then the foliage becomes whitish-yellow.
It is necessary, as soon as the first signs of this disease appear, to spray the plant with iron sulfate (2% concentration). Chlorosis may occur due to too high a concentration of lime, in which case it makes no sense to grow apple trees on such land.
Very good "markers" are weeds:
- bindweed;
- dandelion;
- yarrow;
- plantain.
If they have a whitish tint, then the soil can be restored by planting alfalfa, it is one of the best green manure.
It is also useful to use top dressings that generate an acidic reaction:
- ammonium nitrate;
- manure.
At the seedling
Only healthy seedlings should be planted, therefore, it is necessary to purchase such products in verified places, it must have all the certificates. If the apple tree is affected by mosaic disease, it is disposed of and burned. Mosaic ailment is caused by a special aphid carried by ants. It is very difficult to fight this disease.
An important component is the choice of the correct material for planting. It is recommended to buy seedlings:
- in garden partnerships;
- in nurseries.
Young apple tree
The yellowness of the leaves appears in different variations, for example, the leaves curl up, turn yellow and dry. By indirect evidence, you can establish the cause of this phenomenon.If the color of the foliage changes in the lower part of the plant, then this indicates, first of all, a nutrient deficiency. It is very likely that if this phenomenon occurs, then the plant has a nitrogen deficiency. When the foliage turns whitish-green, this confirms that the plant lacks potassium.
In the absence of a sufficient amount of phosphorus, the leaves become dark yellow, even reddish, they quickly turn black and dry out.
Magnesium deficiency often occurs in sandy soil when it rains for a long time. The leaves in this case are covered with brown spots, then they dry out and curl. The solution to the problem is possible only by adding the necessary nutrients to the soil. In the case when the crown of the apple tree begins to turn yellow, it is quite possible that there is too much moisture in the soil; groundwater located close to the surface is most likely to blame. Oversaturation with moisture leads to the death of the plant, this should not be allowed. Soil drainage is required.
If oily spots form on the leaves, then this is a sure sign that the plant is infected with scab. The leaf acquires a velvety coating, then it becomes brown and dries. In addition to Bordeaux liquid, in this case, Skor and Fitosporin should be used. It is also necessary to strengthen the plant by feeding it with nitroammophos. If the apple tree is planted more than 12 cm deeper than the norm, then this can also provoke early yellowing of the leaves. The soil, which has an alkaline composition or is oversaturated with lime and manure, is also a prerequisite for early yellowing.
Other reasons why the leaves turn yellow:
- lack of the proper amount of iron, without it normal photosynthesis is impossible;
- freezing and dying of roots;
- lack of oxygen in the soil due to excessive moisture.
Sometimes the strap is not loosened on the trunk, it cuts into the bark, which leads to a metabolic disorder in the trunk, this can also cause yellowing of the foliage.
There is also a complete incompatibility of scion and rootstock, which is why incorrectly grafted surfaces grow together. Main reasons:
- apple trees were planted in the wrong soil;
- the tree was planted, with violations;
- defeat by harmful microorganisms;
- defeat by low temperatures;
- waterlogging of the soil.
If nettle grows next to the apple tree, then this confirms the presence of the required amount of nitrogen. If a lot of dandelions grow around, this indicates a deficiency of nitrogenous compounds. Aphids are extremely harmful to apple trees, which suck out all the juices, causing the leaves to curl and fall off.
Methods of treatment
Apples that are sick with rot are stacked in deep pits and fall asleep. If this is not done, there will be a threat of infection by the fungus of other plants. A simple and effective way to protect apple trees from pests is to whitewash the trunks with lime.
Processing apple trees is best:
- iron vitriol;
- Bordeaux liquid;
- any fungicide.
All work with chemistry should be carried out before the foliage appears, as well as in late autumn, when the tree is preparing for winter. It also requires regular fertilizing in the garden.
Preventive measures
In autumn, all fallen leaves should be collected and burned - this is an effective preventive measure to eliminate parasites that provoke diseases. Especially dangerous is chlorosis, which is a very common disease in apple trees. Preventive measures should be taken to prevent it from occurring.When iron deficiency is present, the process of photosynthesis is inhibited in the leaves, which negatively affects metabolism. Prophylactic spraying with iron chelate should be done.
There are several reasons for iron deficiency:
- too much salt appeared in the soil;
- an excessive amount of fertilizer has been applied;
- the groundwater level has risen.
Many more reasons can be named, but timely spraying with iron chelate is recommended as a preventive measure. This composition has a low degree of danger, however, you should not forget about the use of personal protective measures (respirator, glasses).
It is necessary to spray, first of all, points of growth.
Ferrous vitriol should be applied with caution. If the earth has an increased acidity, then the use of this composition should be refrained from, it will additionally oxidize the soil. Liquid root dressings are added along the periphery of the tree crown, where the bulk of the roots are located. Often they make special small pits to a depth of 25 cm, at a distance of about 55 cm from the tree trunk; Top dressing is poured into these holes or powder is poured in half a teaspoon. This measure is simple and effective over a long period of time.
The reasons for changing the color of the leaves and the features of the treatment of the apple tree, see the following video.