My Leyland cypress hedge has Seiridium unicorne canker fungus. The canker, also called coryneum canker, is a big problem on Leyland cypress trees. The fungus will destroy the cypress' form and cause eventual death if not controlled. Seiridium canker is usually localized on individual limbs. The limb is usually dry, dead, often discolored, with a sunken or cracked area surrounded by living tissue. In many cases there is a gray discoloration at the point of infection. Fungal spores are washed down the tree or splashed from tree to tree by rain or overhead irrigation. New infections develop when spores lodge in bark cracks and wounds. You should always destroy diseased plant parts and try to avoid physical damage to plants. Sanitize pruning tools between each cut by dipping in rubbing alcohol or in a solution of 1 part chlorine bleach to 9 parts water. Chemical control of the fungus has proven to be difficult but some success has been noted with a full-coverage fungicide spray at monthly intervals from April to October.
Leyland Cypress With Seridium Canker - Photo by Steve Nix and Licensed to About.com
Comments
Any luck controlling the Seiridium canker? If so, what fungicides were used?
Thanks, DL
I have 4 Leyland cypress planted about 8 feet apart. I planted them about 5 years ago. They are doing well. One is stunted from deer rutting and damaging the trunk, but it is comming out of it. This summer I found some small white slimy bags hanging from the branches I quickly sprayed them with malithion until they fell off. Have not seen any damage and it has been about 2 months. Any idea what that was??
You probably have bagworms. Check this site out…
http://forestry.about.com/od/forestinsects/p/Bagworm.htm
Steve Nix
Can leyland Cypress be milled ,im thinking of it dressed and used as panelling in a kitchen makeover, Cupboards,drawers etc
Regards Winston Gray
my leylands do show the seirdium cancer, what can i spray on?
Chemical control of this disease is not reliable. Even if it was, all foliage of every tree has to be sprayed once a month from April to October. Easier to just cut out the few branche tips that have died back. Will probably need to be done only once or twice a summer.
how do the roots of a leyland cypress grow and i am planning to plant my trees in my front yard were my septic tank a good 15′to 30′ feet away.
We have about 10 leyland cypress trees that are about 2 1/2 years old. They’ve been doing great until recently when one started turning brown. We removed that tree but now have brown spots on about 4 trees. What causes this and how can it be stopped? The trees are planted in an area that gets alot of water when it rains and the temperature gets up to around 100 degrees during the summer months.
I’m not sure if my trees have this seirdium cancer. I have 8 leyland trees and they were planned two years ago. They all have brown branches at the bottom of the trees to half way. I haven’t seen any bugs of any kind on them. Not all the branches are brown but I’m concern, what can I do? Do you think it’s the seirdium cancer?
This must be our problem-I need to treat the whole tree- we’ve already lost 4 to this canker. Can you suggest any treatment?
I have 85 lelands bordering my entire back yard which affords me complete privacy. However, i have lost 4 to canker disease and others have isolated branches that are dead. These trees are matured at 30-35 feet. A great looking tree but not tolerant at all.
Sounds like we all have the same problem and there is no cure. Wish I had heard about these diseases from my nursery when I purchased them. Sounds like the more we plant these the worse it spreads.
The only way to combat these diseases is with proper cultural methods when planted and making sure the trees are as healthy as possible. That means mulching, watering, pruning, fertilizing all as necessary and based upon soil testing.
When this problem is first noticed from a distance you will notice that the colour of the foliage is turning, we use a product called ‘rogor’. If not tended to you could lose the tree within weeks (2-3) All the best.