Girlish grapes are an unpretentious, fast-growing liana, valued by gardeners for their amazing decorative effect, winter hardiness, resistance to pests and pathogens. However, improper care and adverse environmental factors often lead to a decrease in the immunity of this hardy plant, as a result of which it begins to suffer from both various diseases and insect invasions. What diseases are Maiden grapes susceptible to, what pests pose a threat to it, what are the preventive measures – we will tell in this article.
Diseases and their treatment
Girlish grapes are resistant to pathogens of many known plant diseases, however, due to various circumstances, it can suffer both from pathogenic bacteria and from fungi or viruses. Below are the names and descriptions of the most common diseases that the ornamental vine in question can become infected with.
Gray mold
A dangerous fungal disease that affects not only the green parts of the plant, but also its young shoots and stems. One of the main reasons for the development of gray mold is high humidity., which may occur due to adverse weather conditions or, more often, with excessive watering and abundant spraying. In some cases, the vine can become infected with rot from already affected plants that are nearby.
A characteristic symptom of the disease is a dirty white or grayish fluffy coating that forms on leaves, shoots and fruits. Rot treatment is carried out in a complex, using various methods and means.
The main measures in the fight against gray rot include:
- removal of the affected parts of the vine;
- treatment of the plant with fungicidal preparations – “Gamair”, “Alirin-B”.
Also, during the period of rot treatment, gardeners take measures aimed at reducing soil moisture. For this purpose, watering is temporarily suspended, spraying is completely stopped.
Root rot
Another insidious fungal disease that affects the underground parts of plants (roots and rhizomes). This disease can occur during the season of prolonged rains, when the level of humidity in the air and soil rises sharply. Other common causes of root rot are over-watering and poor soil drainage.
The main symptoms of this disease are:
- inhibition of plant growth;
- wilting and yellowing of leaves;
- browning of the bark on lignified shoots and their gradual death.
As in the previous case, in the fight against root rot, the treatment of plants is carried out in a complex manner. To do this, gardeners carry out activities such as:
- treatment of grapes with fungicides and copper-containing drugs – “Hom”, “Oksihom”, “Abiga-Peak”;
- deep trenching of a place with infected plants;
- carrying out work to improve soil drainage.
In case of severe damage, the affected vine must be dug up and burned. In the place of its growth, nothing should be grown in the next 3-4 years.
Overview of pests and their control
grape leafworm
A pest whose pupae can seriously damage both wild and cultivated forms of grapes. An adult is a butterfly about 1-1,2 cm in size, marbled. Leafworm caterpillars are small (up to 1 cm), have a gray-green color and golden shields on their heads. To destroy the grape leafworm, plants are treated with insecticides “Tocution”, “Cydial”, “Fozalon”.
aphid
A tiny parasite that feeds on plant sap. It is usually found when examining the undersides of leaves. To combat the few colonies, they carry out spraying with soapy water (300 grams of household or 100 grams of tar soap for 1 bucket of water).
With a mass defeat of grapes by aphids, insecticides “Fitoverm”, “Aktara” are used.
Mice
Well-known pest rodents that annoy many homeowners. These small creatures, on the eve of cold weather, can equip nests in the thickets of grapes, damaging its above-ground part.
To fight mice, standard devices are used – mechanical and automatic traps.. Less commonly, gardeners resort to the help of toxic substances (poisons) – “Storm”, “Warfare”, “Blockade”, “Efa”.
Preventive measures
The main measure for the prevention of diseases and damage to vines by pests is proper care, which includes regular but moderate watering, timely pruning and formation of vines. In no case should excessive thickening of plants be allowed – the main reason for the decrease in their immunity.
In addition, dense thickets attract mice, which, while looking for a warm shelter, often build nests in them.
