Problem solving

Cat 3

Hi all

Can one of you explaine what has happened to my cotoneater hedge.  Please see photos.  Half is as per the photo the other half is green with pink and red berries ,

I am worried that this will spread and the whole hedge will die,  Can't afford to replace it, it has taken 4 years to grow it.

Help, as always, much appreciated.

Cat

Paul B3

Hi Cat

I can't see very clearly the leaves in your photos ; is that particular part of the hedge in shade , or under the drip of trees?

Maybe it's a sooty mould of some kind , and if so that is treatable with a fungicidal spray .

nutcutlet

the leaves are the part that shows the health of the plant, if they're Ok don't worry. Berries sometimes rot as in all fruit

Cat 3

Hi, yes Paul the hedge is near a tree, a Whitebeam.  However there were no problems last year. I cut some of the hedge and remove a lot of the mouldy sooty berries yesterday.

I am wondering if the birds have anything to do with it.  They nested in the hedge and there were about 30 on it this morning .

I sprayed with Rose Clear yesterday, but it rained  heavily overnight do I will have to spray again.

As Nutcutlet says the leaves look okay, although a darker green than the other part, but that could be the plant itself.

Hope it's okay because as I said as a poor pensioner I can't afford to replace it and it is a barrier from my neighnours.

Thank you all

Cat

Dovefromabove

i think it's sooty mould caused by aphids. The birds will eat the aphids so encourage them and the problem will be greatly reduced. 

Also sooty mould at this time of year is unlikely to have long term effects on the health of your hedge and the winter rains will help remove it. 

nutcutlet

Lay off the sprays if you possibly can. None of that stuff is good for the wildlife in the garden. Saves the pennies as well