What is kerria twig and leaf blight?
Caused by the fungus Blumeriella kerriae. It isn’t known how it got into the UK. Spores spread by wind and rain-splash. Not thought to infect other plants.
Symptoms
Red-brown spo ing, then blotching of leaves. Leaves yellow, turn brown and fall. Purple-brown lesions expand on stems which cause shoots to die back.
Control
No effective control currently known. Bayer Fungus Fighter Plus and Sco s Fungus Clear Ultra have been passed for use on ornamentals. Cut back infected stems hard and dispose of leaves by burning, or at local authority recycling sites.