Twig blight (Venturia)
Venturia spp.
14 host plants
Last updated
This profile contains verified disease data from extension databases. Regional field notes and expert review are in progress.
Venturia spp. cause twig blight on willow, showing browning of young shoots and leaf lesions. Avoid overhead irrigation and improve air circulation through pruning. Rake and destroy fallen leaves before spring infection periods. Plant less-susceptible willow species. Limited data exist on fungicide efficacy for this willow disease.
Remove blighted tissue promptly, cutting well below visible symptoms. Improve air circulation by thinning dense growth. Avoid overhead watering, especially during bloom and new growth periods when tissues are most susceptible. For recurring problems, preventive fungicide applications timed to protect new growth can reduce infection, but cultural controls should be your first approach.
Quick Reference
Management
Cultural Controls
- Avoid overhead watering.
- Space plantings and prune trees to improve air circulation.
- Rake and destroy fallen leaves before the spring infection period.
- Prune and destroy diseased twigs and branches in fall when practical.
- Plant less-susceptible willows such as bay-leaved, osier, purple, and weeping.