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Aesculus leaf scorch

9 years ago

Hey everyone,

I have three red horse-chestnuts (probably aesculus x carnea, they're grafts and I'm not sure) that have really bad leaf scorching starting in mid-July.

I know leaf scorching on aesculus is common, but is there anyway to prevent it? I love the trees in the spring and their shape in the winter, but by midsummer they look pretty bad. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

S

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Comments (5)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
not possible in my MI ...

if you cant stand it.. get rid of them ...

that said.. the week or two of fabulous red flowers is good enough for me ..

every.. and i mean EVERY plant.. has its season ...

this trees season.. is not late summer..

but the nuts are glorious in themselves ...

ken
davidrt28 (zone 7)
9 years ago
Aesculus hippocastanum even scorches in Paris. It just seems to be something they do, and their progeny. Plant in the part of the garden you don't expect to visit in late summer ;-)

Someone ought to recreate X carnea with A. indica or A. wilsonii and A pavia. That plant would probably be more suitable for our climate, and i suspect less likely to have the leaf scorch issues.
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Thanks for the info, I thought it was strange to see this on the same plant in two different locations after a cool moist spring so far. As that had me thinking something other than traditional burn vs something with the overwintering o the fall harvest. But has HM4E mentioned I found something that said plants may do this after it warms up after a cool moist period. Still surprised to see this on a native selected cultivar that is to supposed to be resistant to this even if it is a new planting. Couple that with the fact there are much more sensitive plants (new plantings as well) in the area without issue. Wonder what these trees are going to do with a full summer ahead of them. Time will only tell! Thanks for the responses.
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arbordave (SE MI)
9 years ago
If it's leaf "blotch" (Guignardia) disease (as opposed to leaf "scorch"), you should be able to reduce infection with a fungicide spray(s) beginning at bud break in the spring.
hairmetal4ever
9 years ago
How do you tell the two apart (scorch vs. the other issue)?

The mature A. flava down the road look perfect as of today. There are three in a small grove - 2 have zero scorch and the other has some minor foliar blemishing.

They usually have good fall color here, too - yellow with sometimes a hint of orange.

I have 3 A. flava seedlings in pots - 2 scorched to the point they are now defoliated, the third has a little discoloration but no actual scorch or burning on leaves. I think this is due to having a young root system, and that once planted out and the root system expands and establishes, scorch can be avoided. Moisture has been good this summer in our area, and not much heat relative to recent summers. I've also been watering the ones in containers, of course.

This post was edited by hairmetal4ever on Mon, Sep 1, 14 at 23:42
arbordave (SE MI)
9 years ago
Leaf "scorch" usually refers to yellowing/browning of the margins of the leaves, while guignardia leaf "blotch" affects irregular areas on the leaves. See link - click on "PDF file of Insert of Issue 20(5)".

Here is a link that might be useful: horsechestnut leaf problems

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