A frequent manifestation of gooseberry malaise is the appearance of moss and lichen on the stems. Moreover, not only adult and old shrubs suffer from this, but also very young ones.
Most often, mossy and lichen formations appear in whole groups, as a rule, at first on the northern side of the shoot in the form of green spots that resemble river algae in appearance. They grow very quickly, spreading over the surface of the branches, while covering the bark with a dense layer and preventing the plant from “breathing”.
The main reasons for the appearance, I can include:
- high soil acidity;
- poor implementation of agrotechnical measures;
- strong shading of the bush;
- stagnation of irrigation water;
- lack of nutrients and general "poverty" of the soil;
- location of groundwater close to the roots.
Methods of treatment
Sometimes gardeners do not react too quickly to the appearance of plaque and growths on gooseberries, considering the problem to be frivolous. However, damage by lichens and mosses can significantly affect the yield of the bush for the worse, and in especially severe cases, lead to the death of the berry. It should always be remembered that such plants are plant parasites that pull a large amount of nutrients, and can also become a breeding ground for other parasites and diseases. Plants with such "neighbors" do not grow well, become noticeably weaker, bear fruit poorly and quickly die off as whole berries.
The sooner you pay attention to the appearance of third-party "inhabitants" on the branches and start an active struggle, the more likely you are to get a good harvest and save your gooseberries from further trouble.
The most common and effective methods are mechanical processing and cleaning of the bark, as well as the use of chemicals that destroy moss. What measures should be resorted to shows the condition and well-being of the bush - the larger the lesion, the more serious the therapeutic measures.
As a rule, when lignified stems are damaged, gardeners use special equipment to work on the affected areas or clean the bark from plaque. If thin branches are affected or the scope of work is too extensive, then spraying with preparations should be applied.
I note that mechanical cleaning is better tolerated by young plants, which, after damage, are able to quickly recover. For work, you should take plastic and wooden scrapers to reduce injury to the surface of the stems. I strongly recommend that all remaining plant waste be disposed of in a separate area in order to prevent possible infection of other plants. Usually, all the scraped off residues are simply burned.
Of the chemicals, I primarily recommend using an aqueous solution of iron sulfate. To prepare the desired consistency, 5% vitriol is diluted in 50 liters of liquid, and then the areas treated with scrapers are sprayed with the resulting mixture, disinfecting and stimulating the plants.
The main preventive measure I can call the spring treatment of gooseberries with a solution of copper sulfate. The tool perfectly dries up "dangerous" areas, destroying mosses and lichens at a very early stage. Another positive measure is the timely pruning of the bush.
And how do you cope with the appearance of moss on the berries? Are you familiar with this problem? Share your opinion in the comments.
Read also: Gooseberries: the lifespan of a bush and when the plant begins to bear fruit
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