Prune fruit trees to avoid silver leaf disease – with WOLF-Garten tools

Summer is here, and while the season brings many delights for gardeners, it also brings a blight too – silver leaf disease. This fungal infection affects the wood and leaves of some fruit trees, particularly plums, apples, apricots and cherries. Infecting the wood through wounds, this fungus turns leaves silver – hence the name! – and eventually kills whole branches. Another symptom can be an irregular dark stain in the centre of affected branches, which can be seen when they are cut.

There is a way to avoid silver leaf disease though, and that is through prudent pruning, at the right time of year. The fungus can enter the wood after it has been pruned, so it is important to avoid pruning susceptible plants in autumn and winter, when most infectious spores are in the air. Instead, prune these fruit trees in summer, when the fungus is much less active.

If silver leaf is spotted, remove the affected branch as quickly as possible, at a point 10-15cms beyond the area where the wood is stained internally. Use a tool such as WOLF-Garten’s Professional Pruning Saw, which features a branch hook, bark scratcher and reusable blade cover. The blade is equipped with ‘push and pull’ teeth which maximise cutting performance, helping to prevent bacterial infections. The two-in-one nature of the blade means that the user can easily reach branches at head height, as well as those further away, when paired with the telescopic handle.

Another option is WOLF-Garten’s Bypass Tree Lopper, which is 2 metres in length – enabling gardeners to reach a height of 3.5 metres from solid ground. With two cutting options – high-speed for thinner branches and high-performance for thicker ones – this tree lopper will help to cut down afflicted branches from a distance. Not only that, but the non-stick coating helps to reduce strain and makes it easier to clean.

For branches even further away, the multi-change Anvil Tree Lopper is the answer. Equipped with a 4:1 pulley system, the lopper can be attached to a cable guide and a telescopic handle, allowing it to reach branches up to 5.5 metres away. The precision blades offer a smooth and precise cut for branches up to 38mm in diameter and it’s also designed to be used with a variety of multi-change handles. That means that, whether cutting diseased branches at close range or far away, there’s a perfect handle for the job.

All three tools have been built with safety in mind, as they can reach high branches without the use of a ladder – meaning that you can prune from the security of solid ground!

After cutting the affected branch, the best thing to do is let it heal naturally. Of course, keep a close eye to ensure there aren’t any more silver leaves or dark spots on cut branches – to ensure the disease hasn’t returned. But, by following the instructions above, it’s possible to completely eradicate silver leaf disease and enjoy once-affected fruit trees for many years to come.

ENDS

Professional Pruning Saw – RRP £62.99

Bypass Tree Lopper – RRP £164.99

Multi-change Anvil Tree Lopper – RRP £79.99

Further information on products is available on the WOLF-Garten website at https://wolfgarten-tools.co.uk/

Ends

Editors notes

The WOLF-Garten gardening tool collection offers the total gardening solution for lawn care, soil and cultivation, tree and shrub care and general garden maintenance. The premium quality garden hand tools and garden powered tools are distributed by E. P. Barrus Ltd; a British Company with 100-years trading experience.

The WOLF-Garten philosophy is to provide gardening tools and machinery of premium quality and performance that help make gardening easier and more enjoyable. All Wolf products undergo rigorous quality testing from the innovative multi-change® range to the electric lawnmower range, and every tool in the range is covered by a guarantee.