What should I do if the lilac wilts?

Cherished memories of spring days filled with the ghostly scent of lilac (Syringa spp.) have inspired more than one novice gardener. Lilac bushes, once intended for cold winter regions, are now fragrant with the spring breeze in all zones 2 or 3-9 of the Ministry of Agriculture. However, you have to pay for their airy, intoxicating inflorescences. Without regular care, lilacs often suffer from insects, diseases, or wilting from water.



Lepidoptera insects

Lilac branches, twigs and leaves are infested by insects that feed on sap. The armored scales of the oyster shell are hidden under hard purple-brown protective plates. The reddish-brown European shell-like fruit plants secrete transparent, sticky waste called honeydew during feeding. In small numbers, lepidoptera rarely bother lilacs. However, the leaves on heavily infected plants can curl, wilt, or turn yellow before falling off prematurely. Ladybugs, goldeneye and wasps that parasitize scales can control the lepidoptera population. If they do not help, you can trim severely damaged twigs or remove pests with a sponge. Smother large colonies with garden or highly specialized oil sprayed according to the directions on the label. These chemicals do not cause serious harm to the natural predators of Lepidoptera.



Lilac borders

Gnarled swellings on old branches of withering lilac indicate infection with lilac powdery flower eater. Creamy-white 1.9-centimeter larvae of the clear-winged moth, petrels burrow into the stems of lilacs to overwinter. Feeding larvae damage moisture-conducting vascular tissues. Sawdust accumulations can be found in the holes of their burrows. In the spring, the pests appear as adults and lay eggs in the wounded or cracked bark. Branches damaged by boletus often break. No insecticides kill the larvae of the burrower. The best protection against them is to maintain the viability of plants with rich, well-drained soil and sufficient water. A layer of mulch in the root zone eliminates the possibility of injury to the bark during mowing. Autumn or early winter removal of infected, diseased or broken branches also reduces the number of wounds attractive for moth egg laying.



Fungal lesions

The fungus Verticillium wilt penetrates the vascular system of lilac. It manifests itself in the form of tarnished, yellowed or brown foliage and withering, dying branches. Symptoms are often limited to one side of the plant. Botrytis or gray mold spores infect plants in wet weather, causing wilting and rotting of buds and leaves, covering them with gray fungal filaments. Properly watered and fertilized lilacs often have the resources to produce healthy new growth and overcome Verticillium wilt. To combat Botrytis, regularly clean and destroy potentially contagious leaves and debris around lilacs, as well as trim all symptomatic branches and twigs. Periodic thinning of plants to improve air circulation and watering from below also prevent the development of botrytis.



Wilt associated with water

Excessive watering displaces oxygen from the pores of the soil and suffocates the roots of lilacs. The foliage wilts and turns yellow, the branches may die. Conversely, lilac wilts in very dry soil when the loss of moisture by the leaves exceeds the absorption of moisture by the roots. To prevent any of these extremes, slowly and deeply irrigate the entire root zone, and before re-watering, allow the top layer of soil to dry to the touch. Newly planted lilacs require more frequent watering than rooted ones. Mostbet BD online casino