Basket Willow with Anthracnose: Prevention & Cure
Salix viminalis
Anthracnose on Basket Willow: What to Know?
Anthracnose on Basket Willow (Salix viminalis) is a fungal condition with high severity. Basket Willow has moderate susceptibility to this disease. Anthracnose is a fungal disease caused by fungi in the genus Colletotrichum that affects many plants, including vegetables, fruits, and trees. The disease thrives in cool, wet conditions, causing dark...
Basket Willow is a easy-care plant. Recovery from Anthracnose takes approximately 14 days with proper treatment.
Unlike bacterial infections, Anthracnose on Basket Willow can be managed with organic fungicides.
ð What Does Anthracnose Look Like on Basket Willow?
- âĒ Small irregular yellow or brown spots on leaves
- âĒ Dark sunken lesions on leaves, stems, flowers and fruits
- âĒ Water-soaked lesions that darken as they age
- âĒ Pink gelatinous masses of spores in lesion centers during warm, moist weather
- âĒ Spots that expand and may cover entire leaves
- âĒ Defoliation in advanced stages
â What Causes Anthracnose on Basket Willow?
- â Caused by fungi in the genus Colletotrichum
- â Cool wet weather promotes development
- â Optimum temperature between 75-85°F (24-29°C)
- â Foliage wet for extended periods of time
- â Fungi overwinter in seeds, soil and garden debris
- â Spores spread through water droplets
ð How to Treat Anthracnose on Basket Willow?
TLDR: Treat Anthracnose on Basket Willow with quick treatment (~7 days) or organic (~14 days). Basket Willow has moderate susceptibility to this disease.
Quick Fixes
Remove and discard all visibly infected parts
Remove and discard all visibly infected parts
Apply commercial systemic fungicide (azoxystrobin or mancozeb)
Apply commercial systemic fungicide (azoxystrobin or mancozeb)
Adjust irrigation to avoid wetting foliage
Adjust irrigation to avoid wetting foliage
Second application of systemic fungicide
Second application of systemic fungicide
Assess treatment effectiveness
Assess treatment effectiveness
Organic Treatment
Remove all infected plant parts and discard in plastic bag
Remove all infected plant parts and discard in plastic bag
Apply organic liquid copper spray to all plant surfaces
Apply organic liquid copper spray to all plant surfaces
Switch irrigation regime to drip, avoiding foliage wetting
Switch irrigation regime to drip, avoiding foliage wetting
Second application of copper fungicide or neem oil
Second application of copper fungicide or neem oil
Assess progress and remove any new lesions
Assess progress and remove any new lesions
Final organic fungicide application and ongoing monitoring
Final organic fungicide application and ongoing monitoring
ðĄïļ How to Prevent Anthracnose on Basket Willow?
TLDR: Prevent Anthracnose on Basket Willow with 8 essential preventive care practices.
- â Implement drip irrigation instead of overhead watering
- â Give plants enough room to breathe and reduce humidity
- â Remove infected plant material after harvest
- â Practice crop rotation between hosts and non-hosts
- â Choose resistant plant varieties when possible
- â Use western grown seeds not exposed to the disease
- â Avoid wetting foliage during watering
- â Ensure good air circulation around plants
ðą How to Care for Basket Willow to Prevent Anthracnose?
ð§ How to Water
Keep soil consistently moist to wet; this willow tolerates waterlogging and even periodic flooding far better than drought.
âïļ Lighting
Needs full sun and direct light all day; it will not thrive or produce strong growth in shade.
ðŠī Ideal Soil
Prefers rich, damp, heavy loamy soil but tolerates sandy or clay soils as long as moisture is abundant.
Frequently asked questions
Can Anthracnose kill my Basket Willow?
How long does Basket Willow take to recover from Anthracnose?
Is Anthracnose contagious to other plants near Basket Willow?
Sources & References
- Anthracnose: Identification, Prevention & Treatment | Gardening Know How
- Anthracnose: How to Identify, Control, and Prevent Anthracnose | The Old Farmer's Almanac
- Anthracnose Disease: Symptoms, Treatment and Control | Planet Natural
- Anthracnose: Symptoms, Prevention & Treatment Methods
- How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Anthracnose
- PFAF Plant Database - Salix viminalis
- Woodland Trust - Osier Willow
- Cornell Willowpedia - Pests and Diseases
- EPPO Global Database - Salix viminalis pests
- ASPCA - Purpleosier Willow toxicity
- Greg App - Basket Willow Care