Why do gooseberry leaves fall and how to deal with it

Falling foliage is a sign that the gooseberry has health problems. Thus, the plant signals a lack of nutrition or diseases, pests, damage to the root system. Sometimes the shedding of leaves occurs for one reason, sometimes there are several. If you do not take action, the plant will die and it will be impossible to restore it. Consider why gooseberries shed their leaves in summer and what to do.

Reasons for gooseberry leaf fall, and what to do about it

This problem occurs in both adult and young shrubs. Let's figure out why gooseberry leaves fall in June or July. There are several reasons for this: improper care, inappropriate planting site, diseases or pests.

Watering and mulching the soil

The gooseberry root system lies close to the soil surface, so water gets to it without problems. Water the plant sparingly and frequently. It is not allowed to "fill" the bush once a month, thinking that such a supply of water will be enough for a long time.

With a lack of moisture, gooseberries prematurely discard leaves at any time of the growing season: during flowering, fruiting, after harvesting. Water deficit is especially dangerous during the period of berry growth - in addition to the bare bush, summer residents will have small and fresh fruits.

Experienced gardeners recommend paying special attention to watering during dry and dry summers. This is true for the southern regions and areas where it rarely rains. For convenience, summer residents use a drip irrigation system. The gooseberry has a weak root system, so the water is heated in the sun. The optimal time for moisturizing is evening. Sprinkling can be used, but it causes development diseases and pests.

Preparing the plant for winter

Preparing a plant for winter includes harvesting the berry, removing and burning plant debris and debris, sanitary or formative pruning, and shelter.

The procedures are started after harveststarting in July and ending in September. It is important to carry out the activities consistently so as not to damage the shrub. Otherwise, the plant will weaken, which will entail leaf fall.

Procedures:

1. Garbage, weeds and fallen leaves are burned outside the garden area. The first harvest is carried out immediately after harvesting, the second when the leaves fall off. Do not add fallen leaves to mulch or compost heaps: this entails the development of diseases.
2. After harvesting, they dig up the soil so that the pests hidden in it appear on the surface and die. The depth of digging near the bush should not exceed 6 cm, so as not to damage the fragile root system.
3. Pruning is carried out in late August or early September: garden pruning shears remove diseased, old and dry shoots, as well as shoots, broken and tangled branches. Further, shoots lying on the ground are cut off, and those that are more than 5 years old. The purpose of pruning is to form a healthy bush with a lot of fruiting branches. The procedure is carried out annually to avoid thickened plantings, diseases and pests.
4. Cover the gooseberry 2-3 weeks before frost. Shoots are pressed to the ground and fixed with planks. The base of the shrub is mulched, the plant is covered with agrospan, film, agrofibre. This is especially true for regions with cold winters. If there is no shelter material, sprinkle the gooseberry with snow when it falls out.

Top dressing

If all the leaves have fallen off, the reason may lie in the lack of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. The plant needs them all year round, especially after harvest. The funds are brought in at the end of July or August, after removing the weeds and loosening the ground. So the gooseberry absorbs trace elements better. For feeding, potassium monophosphate, potassium sulfate, double superphosphate are used. If the plant is more than 5 years old, add 100 g of dry wood ash under it.

Attention! To compensate for the lack of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, gardeners use ready-made universal top dressing "Good Power" for vegetable, fruit and berry crops. In addition to phosphorus and potassium, it contains humic acids, boron, iron, zinc, magnesium, succinic acid. In 10 liters of water, 10 ml of fertilizer is diluted and applied under the bush. Also used ready-made fertilizers "Krepysh" or "Zdraven".

Experienced gardeners also pay attention to foliar feeding. After harvesting, gooseberries are sprayed with Topsin-M solution. A systemic fungicide combats the causes of leaf fall, including diseases and pests. Some summer residents use a solution of ferrous sulfate. Cooking requires a bucket of water and 300 g of the substance. Gooseberries are sprayed after falling leaves.

Diseases and their treatment

Leaves also fall due to fungal, viral or bacterial diseases. They arise for various reasons: an overabundance of trace elements, contaminated soil, weeds and debris, waterlogging, hot weather. The sooner the summer resident discovers the signs and symptoms of the disease, the faster treatment will begin. Common gooseberry problems are powdery mildew, goblet rust, and septoria.

With American powdery mildew shoots, leaves and fruits are covered with a white bloom. After a week, the shoots are bent, the berries are deformed, the leaves curl and dry up, then fall off. Often the disease appears due to debris and weeds that grow under the berry. Fungal spores are frost-resistant, so it is recommended to pickle the soil several times a year. Treat the disease with the fungicide "Tiovit Jet".

Due to glassy rust reddish-brown small ones appear on the leaf plates stainswhich swell over time and become like furry footprints. Spores of the fungus are carried by wind or rain, and quickly infect nearby growing crops. Goblet rust is treated with Oxyhom, Topaz, and Propy Plus preparations. Fungicides are easy to use and can be found at any gardening store.

Another reason for leaf fall in summer is a non-infectious disease - marginal necrosis... The reason is a deficiency of potassium, due to which the tips of the leaves dry out, become covered with a gray coating and fall off. For treatment, gooseberries are sprayed with a solution of potassium sulfate (a bucket of water + 50 g of substance). Shrubs are sprayed in the evening using personal protective equipment: gloves, respirator and goggles.

Pests and the fight against them

Insect pests are common in berry fields, where they do not remove weeds, do not dig up and do not loosen the soil. They appear in spring, summer and even late autumn. A frequent visitor to the gooseberry is the spider mite. The small green insect is especially fond of young plants.

The pest sucks the juice, as a result leaves begin to turn yellow and dry out... When a spider mite appears, an infusion of tobacco is used: for 5 liters of water, 2 tbsp. tobacco dust. Water and dust are mixed, infused for 3 days. The solution is filtered and poured into a spray bottle.

If caterpillars, aphids or whiteflies appear on the gooseberry, use the drug "Fufanon". It affects pests immediately after processing, harmless to humans. The "Kinmix" agent is also used against pests. It is sold in ampoules, it is simply prepared, it instantly acts against larvae and adults.

Prevention of diseases and pests - what to do so that the leaves do not fall

To prevent premature leaf fall, summer residents pay attention to spring, summer and autumn preventive measures.

The procedures protect gooseberries from diseases and insect pests, strengthen immunity, and normalize metabolic processes:

• annual garbage collection and burning of leaves;
• regular weeding;
• spraying gooseberries with ash, tobacco, nettle solution;
• pruning and thinning shrubs;
• autumn digging of soil;
• application of potassium-phosphorus fertilizers;
• shelter for the winter;
• regular inspection of shrubs for the presence diseases and insects.

Conclusion

What if the gooseberry has dropped its leaves? First of all, find out the reason. There may be several of them: a lack of trace elements, care errors, improper watering or top dressing. Leaves often fall off due to diseases: American powdery mildew, goblet rust, marginal necrosis.

To avoid problems, preventive measures are taken: weeds are removed and fallen leaves are burned, gooseberries are sprayed with protective agents, and covered for the winter.