Creating the perfect garden takes time and attention, but the spread of disease can quickly ruin your efforts.
Some threats are greater at this time of year, but an expert has shared how to spot and protect against these.
Extreme weather conditions can lead to rot on perennials and shrubs, so it is best to quickly remove any signs of this to stop it spreading, gardening expert at Hedges Direct Jamie Shipley, explained.
He said: “Heavy rainfall and waterlogged soil are the perfect conditions for phytophthora root rot to infect many plants and shrubs.
Look out for signs of disease on your plants
GETTY
“If you notice root rot in your garden, take immediate action by removing any infected plants to reduce the chances of the disease spreading in the soil.
“The surrounding soil from the infected plant should also be safely disposed of and any tools used in the process should be cleaned with disinfectant.”
Box blight is another disease that winter weather conditions can bring on. Jamie continued: “Wet, wintry conditions also mean that plants are susceptible to wind-borne diseases like box blight.
“Like root rot, box blight causes leaves to turn brown or yellow, with them eventually falling off the plant and causing bare patches.
“To catch box blight early, look for white spores on the underside of fallen, infested leaves. This foliage should then be disposed of and removed from your garden immediately to limit any potential spread.
“You can also prune infected branches, but you must always thoroughly disinfect your pruning tools afterwards.”
Coral spots can be more easily identified on trees at this time of year, and the expert suggested how to find and treat them. He explained: “While trees are still bare in winter, it’s easier to spot coral spot disease on branches.
“The fungus infects dead or dying branches and stems, before spreading to living wood to cause the plant to further die back. The main symptom of coral spots is small pink-coloured bumps. These produce spores that can travel to other parts of the plant, or even be blown to neighbouring shrubs in windy weather.
Quick action is required if you spot disease
PEXELS
“To limit the effects of coral spot, prune any affected areas as soon as you spot the bumps and dispose of the cuttings straightaway.”
When it comes to trees, cankers are also a threat in winter. Jamie suggested trimming off discoloured bark.
The expert added: “Specific Prunus tree species are susceptible to bacterial cankers, including plums, cherries, apricots and peaches. Cankers tend to form in springtime, so staying vigilant in February can help you to identify them early.
“Look out for patches of dead and discoloured bark on the stems and trunks of trees and prune back any affected branches to cut out the disease.”Once trimmed, apply a tree wound paint as soon as possible to avoid the incision getting infected again.”
