How to treat and what to do if strawberry leaves have holes

If holes appear, strawberry leaves should be treated with chemicals (fungicides, insecticides). Moreover, the cause must first be established: the problem can be associated with both diseases and the action of insects. If the disease is not advanced, it is permissible to use folk remedies.

Why are there strawberry leaves in holes?

The reasons for this phenomenon are always associated with the development of diseases or the appearance of pests. In some cases, only holes with smooth or uneven edges may appear on the foliage. In others, spots form first and then the tissue dies, causing holes to appear.

Most often, such phenomena are observed when the following diseases and pests appear:

• different types of spots (white, brown, black, brown);
• leaf beetle;
• leaf roller;
• nettle leaf weevil;
• raspberry-strawberry weevil.

For example, curling is often associated with spider mites and strawberry mites. And if holes appear, these are fungal diseases. But this can also be caused by other pests (weevils).

What diseases cause holes in strawberry leaves and what to do

If holes appear on the foliage, it is most often associated with certain diseases. They are infectious in nature, so they quickly spread from one plant to another. The most common pathologies are spotting (black, white, brown, brown).

Anthracnose (black spot)

Anthracnose is a dangerous disease that does not produce any symptoms for a long time. Although during this period the mycelium of the fungus already affects all parts of the strawberry. The main signs of damage are dark spots that resemble burns. As a result, the tissue dies and literally crumbles. If holes appear, this indicates an advanced stage of infection.

Anthracnose causes spots and drying out of strawberry leaves

The wind carries the spores to neighboring plantings. They develop especially actively in conditions of excess humidity. Therefore, failure to comply with watering norms can provoke anthracnose and other diseases that manifest as holes.

Using folk remedies is ineffective. If the first signs appear, it is recommended to immediately treat with fungicides (preferably before fruiting):

• "Quadris";
• "Ridomil Gold";
• "Previkur Energy";
• "Fundazol";
• "Kuproksat";
• "Acrobat MC".

Ramulariasis (white spot)

If whitish spots with a brown border are noticeable on the leaves, this is a sign of white spotting.

Gradually, the dots begin to dry out, after which holes form in their place. The main treatment measure is treatment with drugs. Bordeaux mixture, Bayleton, Kuproksat, and Euparen are suitable for this purpose.

A week later, a second spraying is carried out. If spots or holes appear again, the strawberry bushes are treated again. During fruiting, it is better to use biological pesticides - Fitoverm, Vertimek and others.

Brown spot

If the strawberry leaves have holes and brown spots, then the bushes are affected by brown spot. At first, the spots are dark purple in color, and they appear not only on the foliage, but also on the stems and fruits. Over time, the spots turn red or brown. The affected areas begin to dry out, and holes form in their place.

If such signs appear, it is necessary to carry out total treatment with fungicides:

• "Ridomil Gold";
• "Skor";
• "HOM";
• Bordeaux mixture.

During spraying, you need to ensure that the solution also gets on the underside of the leaf plates. After this, the bed should be weeded and cleaned, and also fertilized with superphosphate (40 g per 1 m²) and potassium salt (20 g per 1 m²). But it often happens that these measures do not help. Then the bushes will have to be completely destroyed so that they do not infect neighboring plants. After this, the soil should be watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Holes on strawberry leaves can form due to brown spotting

Dendrophodiasis

Dendrophomosis - this pathology is also called brown spotting

In terms of external signs, the disease resembles brown pathology. But if spots of angular shapes and holes appear, this is precisely dendrophomorosis.Most often, symptoms develop in the second half of summer, especially against the background of heavy rains. Treatment measures are exactly the same as in the case of brown spot.

What pests cause holes in strawberry leaves and how to deal with them

If holes appear on the strawberry leaves, this may also be due to insects; in this case, you can help the plant with folk remedies and insecticides. The drugs should be used according to the instructions, observing the dosage, frequency of treatment and waiting period (the minimum period of time after which the crop can be harvested).

Strawberry leaf beetle

A dangerous pest, it is a small brown beetle (body length is only 4–5 mm). He chews strawberry leaves, which is why all the bushes will have holes in them. If you do nothing, then over time the pest will destroy the foliage completely. The insect is very prolific - the female lays up to 200 eggs per month on the back side of the leaf blade. And after two weeks, new larvae form, which again make holes.

If holes appear on the strawberry leaves, this may indicate an invasion of the strawberry leaf beetle.

Beetles can be seen with the naked eye. At the first stage, it is recommended to remove them manually or wash them off with water, although this is ineffective. It is better to use folk remedies - an infusion of garlic (cloves, herbs), dandelion or wormwood. The cooking instructions are as follows:

1. Mow 200–300 g of grass (you can use one or a mixture of different ones).
2. Place in a bucket of warm (but not hot) water.
3. Leave covered for 4-6 hours.
4. Strain.
5. Add 40–50 g of laundry soap (liquid soap can be used).
6. Spray the strawberry leaves liberally, where the holes appeared, and the rest (for prevention).

You can also cope with the strawberry leaf beetle using mustard powder - 200 g per 10 l, infusion of wood ash (200-300 g per 10 l) with laundry soap. If the invasion is too large, you need to use insecticides:

• "Aktellik";
• "Bankol";
• "Karbofos";
• "Decis" and others.

These are chemical preparations that completely destroy both the strawberry leaf beetle and other pests. Although during the fruiting period it is preferable to use biological insecticides:

• "Fitoverm";
• "Vertimek";
• "Aktofit";
• "Agravertine".

They have a gentle effect, so you don’t have to worry about the safety of the crop. But it is better to start collecting at least 3-5 days after the last treatment. This period is called the waiting period. It differs depending on the characteristics of the drug (the specific meaning can always be found in the instructions).

Raspberry-strawberry weevil

The presence of a weevil can be determined visually, although its body is small - only 2–3 mm in length. It is painted black, so it stands out in contrast on the surface of the sheet. The weevil eats not only foliage, but also buds and flowers, which leads to a decrease in yield. Its females overwinter in young fallen leaves, so they should always be removed from the site in early autumn.

In spring, weevils begin to multiply, and as a result, each female damages 40–50 buds. Pests feed on leaf tissue. If holes appear on them en masse, it means there are a lot of insects.

One of the reasons why holes may appear on strawberry leaves is the strawberry weevil.

The fight needs to start at this stage. When holes appeared on the leaves, it meant that there were even more insects.

The standard control measure is treatment with a 3% concentration of Karbofos solution. If there are a lot of pests, use the following means:

• "Fufanon Neva";
• "Corsair";
• "Kemifos";
• "Karate".

These are powerful chemicals that are best used before the fruiting stage. If fruits have already appeared on the bushes, use other means:

• "Fitoverm";
• "Cesar";
• infusion of garlic cloves and herbs;
• tobacco dust (dust all strawberry leaves).

If insects appear on the leaves in autumn or spring, they can be shaken off onto a film, and then the bushes can be treated.

Nettle leaf weevil

The nettle leaf weevil is a large beetle with a body length of 10–12 mm. It is painted in a rich green color with a hint of turquoise. The insect feeds on young leaves, gnawing them around the edges. The weevil does not disdain its roots. The buds also suffer - during flowering they begin to fall off, which leads to loss of yield. The beetle can appear not only on strawberries, but also on raspberries, as well as on nettles.

The nettle leaf weevil often causes holes in strawberry leaves.

To destroy the pest, it is better to carry out treatment at the stage of bud formation. Secondary spraying can be planned for the second half of summer, i.e. after harvesting. Moreover, it is better to act at the moment when the first signs appear - damaged edges of foliage.Effective remedies against weevils:

• "Alatar";
• "Karbofos";
• "Fufanon."

Spraying is carried out in cloudy weather, and after a week the treatment must be repeated.

Therefore, experts recommend changing the place where strawberries are planted every 3–4 years.

Strawberry leaf roller

The strawberry leaf roller is a small butterfly (wingspan up to 1.5 cm) of light brown color. If holes appear on the strawberry leaves, this indicates a caterpillar invasion (the butterflies themselves do not cause harm).

Most often, leaf rollers are found in the southern regions

Young light green caterpillars eat foliage. But if holes appear, this indicates that the caterpillars have already grown, since the main damage is caused by adult insects (their bodies are colored brown). As a result, the leaf plates curl up and become covered with a layer of sticky web.

The main preventative measure is to remove and burn old leaves in early autumn. If pests and holey leaves appear on strawberries, they need to be treated with the following chemicals:

• "Karbofos";
• "Phosbecide";
• "Binomial";
• "Bi-58";
• "Atom";
• "Fufanon" and others.

The most dangerous for bushes are currant and winter moths.

Insects cause damage to leaf blades, buds and flowers. As a result, holes appear on them.

Prevention

It is almost impossible to avoid pest invasions and diseases. Although it is quite possible to prevent them and reduce crop losses.There are several proven means of prevention for this:

1. Purchase strawberry varieties that are resistant to major diseases. Hybrids are particularly hardy. In addition, they tolerate frost and temperature changes well.
2. Always hand-pluck leaves in early fall, remove them from the area and burn them. But this must be done at the moment when they have already turned yellow and withered, so that the foliage has time to give nutrients to the stem and roots of the plant.
3. In the spring in April (before the formation of buds), a one-time treatment against pests should be carried out - Bordeaux mixture and insecticide (for example, Actellik, Inta-Vir, Metaldehyde).
4. Another factor that can trigger the development of anthracnose and other fungal infections is excessive watering. Strawberries are given water twice a week, but you need to monitor the weather forecast and also focus on the characteristics of a particular variety.
5. Plants should be watered only with warm, settled water. Cold liquid provokes the development of white spotting.
6. If, however, small holes appear on the strawberry leaves, here’s what you need to do first: carefully examine the bushes and determine the cause. Then carry out a total treatment, not only of the affected, but also of healthy plants.

In mid-spring, strawberries should be sprayed with fungicides and insecticides

Conclusion

If holes appear, strawberry leaves can be treated with folk remedies and chemicals. But if the damage is widespread, some of the bushes will have to be destroyed. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to carry out spring treatments and follow other preventive measures.

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