Many gardeners plant in their plots beautiful annual or perennial herbaceous plants - asters. There are more than 500 species. Asters are planted in flower beds, used for borders, rabatok, to decorate balconies or terraces, to compose beautiful bouquets and flower arrangements. But, unfortunately, all this beauty can be spoiled by the diseases of asters, with which more than one gardener has encountered.
Did you know? In Europe, aster appeared in the XVII century. Her secretly brought a monk from China. After that, the flower spread throughout Central Europe.
Diseases of asters, treatment and prevention
Today, aster seeds are imported from abroad, and this increases the possibility of the emergence and spread of new viral diseases. New viruses and diseases that previously lived in other conditions quickly adapt and adapt to new ones. Asters, by themselves, suffer from a large number of viral diseases (24 species).
Jaundice asters
Aster pests such as cicada and aphids carry jaundice. The leaf plate suffers. First, it begins to turn pale along the veins, after which full chlorosis of the leaf occurs. Buds stop growing and turn green. To combat the disease should be spraying with a solution of Anti-virus or Pyrimora from pests.
Against aphids, you can use a decoction of yarrow: 800 g of yarrow, pour 10 liters of water (boiling water) and boil for 2-3 hours, cool. Be sure to burn damaged plants. As a preventive measure, spray from pests that transmit viral diseases.
Mealy dew
Mealy dew is a fungal disease of asters. Its characteristic features are white bloom, drying and falling off of leaves, curvature of peduncles and their death. Often the disease spreads due to lack of nutrients, neglect of planting and high humidity.
To combat the disease:
- It should use drugs such as Topaz or Vectra, which are aimed specifically at fighting it;
- spraying should be carried out three times every two weeks.
Blackleg
Blackleg is a fungal disease that is the reason why asters blacken. Saplings and seedlings begin to turn black, the root neck and stems rot, the root rot begins, after which the plant dies. This fungus is common on acidic soils.
To combat the disease:
- conduct an early picking;
- remove large plants;
- disinfect the soil with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate;
- Sprinkle the soil around the asters with sand;
- Disinfect crates, greenhouses, flower pots with bleach or copper sulfate solutions.
Asters rust
A disease such as asters rust can cause the death of all the flowers on the site. Spores of rust are carried by the wind over long distances, and they tolerate wintering well, and in spring they strike healthy flowers again.
Rust is manifested by the appearance of stains and growths of brown and brown color on the leaves. If you do not start fighting with this disease in time, it will quickly spread to other flowers.
To combat rust and to prevent:
- Plant asters away from coniferous trees (250-350 meters);
- spend prophylactic sprays Bordeaux fluid;
- if rust has already appeared - spray fungicides every two weeks until the complete elimination of the disease.
Septoria
Another reason why asters disappear is Septoria. This disease is characterized by the appearance on the leaves of brown spots, which greatly spoil the appearance of asters. The disease spreads quickly and affects all the leaves, they shrink, aster stops growing and dies.
To combat the disease:
- thin out the landings;
- spray a solution of Bordeaux liquor or copper oxychloride.
Late blight
Another fungal disease that asters are exposed to is late blight. Distinguished by the appearance of brown spots and white bloom.
To combat the disease:
- should be sprayed with preparations containing copper;
- remove remnants of damaged plants.
Fusarium
Fusarium is one of the most dangerous diseases. It is caused by the fungus Fusarium, which is spread by spores. Infected plants through the soil. The disease penetrates the vasoconducting system and clogs it, after which Fusarium wilt occurs.
Important! Young flowers Fusarium infects very rarely, only if adverse conditions arise (high humidity, acidic soil).
To combat the disease:
- it is necessary to alternate cultures when planting;
- add lime to the soil to maintain neutral acidity;
- Steam the soil before sowing seeds;
- To prevent seedling disease, after planting the plants should be sprayed with copper oxychloride solution.
The main pests, methods of dealing with them
Pests of asters bring a lot of trouble to gardeners. In addition to spoiling the beauty of plants, they also carry diseases with viruses. In order to protect the flowers from harmful insects, you need to carry out preventive measures:
- autumn digging ground;
- removal and destruction of dying and annual plants in the fall;
- correct location and choice of landing site;
- apply humus, lime and compost to the soil;
- the correct distance between the plants.
Meadow bug
The size of the bug is only 5-10 mm, however, it can cause great damage to flowers. The bug is a yellow insect with an elongated body, to which the wings are tightly pressed. The bedbug damages flowers, buds, shoots, leaves and stems. The leaves begin to curl, the buds are deformed. The pest is very active from June until the end of flowering, especially during dry periods.
Pest control:
- spraying with karbofos solution;
- phosphamide dusting.
Spider mite
A tick is a pest of 0.4-0.5 mm in size that lives on the underside of a leaf. Its color in spring and autumn is orange-yellow, red, and in summer - green-yellow. It feeds on the juice of asters, which is why the leaves turn yellow and fade.
Pest control:
- weed control;
- watering with a solution of sulfur and lime in dry weather;
- spraying with 2% pyrethrium solution, 0.2% solution of karbofos, tincture of tobacco, garlic or onion.
Passed Slug
Slug eats leaves and damages the buds. It can be easily recognized by the elongated slimy body with horns on the head. The slug reserves oblong holes, covered with its secretions.
Pest Control:
- carry out the destruction of weeds;
- sprinkle with lime on the borders of the plots;
- process the soil with lime.
Sunflower fire
This pest is a butterfly in size up to 20-25 mm. The wings are gray, elongated. Caterpillars reach sizes 9-15 mm. Butterflies are dangerous because they lay eggs on the anther of flowers. Caterpillars eat pollen and flower petals, then move and eat seeds in flower baskets.
Pest Control:
- soil treatment with basudin before planting;
- collection of caterpillars and butterflies by hand.
Kidney aphid
Aphids mainly damage young plants. It feeds on the sap of the plant, because of which the leaf plates start to curl, dry up and fall off. Aphids can spread to asters from nearby plants or the weeds on which she lived. Therefore, if you spray asters, spray the nearest plants for prevention.
Pest Control:
- spraying bushes karbofos;
- spraying drug Inta-vir.
Slobbering penny
These yellow-green larvae live in foamy secretions on the leaves or shoots. Activity is manifested from mid-May to early July. They damage the leaves and stems of flowers. This leads to the deformation of asters and a decrease in its flowering.
Pest Control:
- carry out treatment with Karbofos or Antio;
- use for spraying infusion or decoction of tobacco with soap.
Important! To keep the liquid on the surface of the plants before spraying, you need to add soap.
Scoop gamma
The scoop-gamma is a medium-sized dark-brown butterfly, which is distinguished by a light icon on its wings, resembling the Greek letter "gamma". It causes great harm in the spring when young plants appear. In the second half of summer, the butterfly is less dangerous. Caterpillar scoops green, length 32 mm, on its back 8 light lines. Caterpillars eat above-ground parts of plants.
Pest Control:
- carry out the destruction of weeds;
- spraying plants with a solution of Chlorophos, Karbofos, Phosphamide.
Thrips
Thrips cause great damage to the leaves of plants. Eating leaves, they cause yellowing, drying and dropping leaves. The appearance and decorativeness of asters is lost.
Pest Control:
- Spray the extract of onion, tobacco and garlic peels.
Earworm
The body of earwig ordinary resin-brown color, up to 2 cm long. An adult insect is harmful to the plants. Shows activity from the second half of June until the end of flowering. Due to the earwig activity, the leaves, buds and inflorescences of asters are damaged.
Pest control:
- to carry out dusting with pyrethrum, basezol;
- manual collection followed by the destruction of the pest.
Did you know? Some gardeners use special manure traps to destroy the earwig. To do this, dig up small holes and fill them with mullein and plant residues. Whips attracts heat and food. They settle in these homes for the winter. Spring masonry removed and destroyed.
Thus, to ensure good flowering and a healthy type of asters, care should be taken to protect them from pests and diseases. Do not forget about the methods of prevention that will help avoid wasting money on expensive drugs and chemicals.