Leaves infected with rust fungus - yellow patches on the upper surfaces and brown rust pustules underneath

Rust

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Monday, 4 March 2019 at 3:00 pm

Prevent and treat rust fungus in your garden with the help of our expert guide.

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Rust is a fungal infection and there are many different types that tend to be specific to particular plants and spreads by means of dust-like spores. The fungus is encouraged by a humid, moist atmosphere and grows on the surface of the leaves and sometimes stems. It takes its nutrition from the plant. This can weaken the plant and in severe cases reduce its flowering or productivity. Bad infestations may result in total loss of leaves and occasionally in death of the plant.

Symptoms

Yellow patches on leaves with orange-brown pustules on the under-surface. Plants may lose their leaves as a result of heavy infestation and rust pustules may be seen on stems.

Find it on

roses, fruit trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, perennials, vegetables

Organic

Check plants regularly and remove infected leaves by hand. Tidy up any infected fallen leaves to prevent re-infection. This is particularly important in autumn when the spores can overwinter on fallen leaves to contaminate seedlings or new growth in spring. Prune out infected growth and maintain an open centre to shrubs to allow good air circulation through the plant.

Chemical

Spray the plant and the soil around it with a fungicide suitable for the control of rust fungus.

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