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Cypress canker

Disease killing cypress trees
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Cypress canker is really the only disease known to this conifer.

Although generally quite hardy, a canker infection can devastate an entire hedge and neighboring plants.

It tends to expand to the entire tree, and branches will start turning rust-colored and then die off one at a time.

Cypress leaves and branches turn brown, orange and dry off

No doubt about it: canker.

This is a microscopic fungus that sneaks in under the bark and can devastate entire forests – or hedges – of cypress.

Treating against cypress canker

Sadly, there isn’t any truly effective treatment against canker. Only controlling the spread is possible when it appears.

Cut any branch that has developed rust-colored blemishes at its base as soon as you detect the disease, and burn them.

Smart tip about cypress canker

It is preferable to be drastic and leave a scrawny cypress standing, than to hope against hope that it will go away: the only thing to go away will be more cypresses…


Image credits (edits Gaspard Lorthiois):
CC BY-NC 3.0 US: David L. Clement, University of Maryland, Bugwood.org
CC BY-ND 2.0: Derek Winterburn
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