Leaf Scorch

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Leaf Scorch

9:06 am by webmann in backyard gardening

When you notice yellowing or browning on the leaves of your plants then it’s quite possible you have leaf scorch. It generally begins on the edges or the tips of the leaves and eventually will cover the whole of the leaf. Sometimes the leaves will fall off.

It is usually caused by winds and particularly those winds that are hot and dry. It will also happen with salt laden winds that can occur if you are living close to the sea.

Often you will only notice this condition on one side of the plant and that will be the side that is exposed most to the winds.
Creating shelter will help to reduce the damage that the wind will cause.

Another reason why you might get leaf scorch will be through the application of excessive amounts of fertilizer.

There is no treatment for the leaves that have already been damaged other than to remove them from the plant and try to solve the problem before the rest of the plant suffers.

Other than providing a windbreak, you should ensure that the plant gets sufficient water, particularly in the dry season and always follow the instructions on the fertilizer packets to ensure you aren’t giving your plants too much fertilizer.

You might also need to consider moving the plant to a better position that is less exposed.

Yellow or golden leaved plants are usually more susceptible to leaf scorch than other plants and you might find that the plant you have chosen, that is suffering from leaf scorch, might not be suitable for the climate you are trying to grow it in.

If this is so, then the only alternative will be to replace that plant with something that is a little hardier. If you live on a coastal property you need to consider the affect that the salt wind will have on plants and chose accordingly.