A Blueberry Bush With Brown Leaves

Brown leaves on a blueberry bush might simply be the result of improper soil, watering or light conditions. Blueberries require well-draining, acidic soils with plenty of organic matter to thrive. The soil pH should be between 4 and 5.5. Plants should be mulched annually. Pine chips or needles are ideal for this because of their natural acidity. Plants require regular watering. Blueberry bushes generally require full sun to be successful, but in semi-tropical or tropical climates, blueberries perform better in light shade conditions.

With red leaf disease, terminal leaves on some bushes turn a reddish color mid-summer. The underside of the leaves may appear whitish and later the leaves will turn black and dry up. There is no control for this disease, so the infected bush should be removed and burned.

The most persistent symptom of shoestring disease is narrow, reddish streaks on the young stems of the bush. Some leaves may be misshapen, twisted or strap-like. The disease is spread by the blueberry aphid, which can be controlled with manual removal or aphicides.

The stem blight fungus causes a rapid wilt and browning or reddening of leaves or individual branches, then quickly spreads to the base of the plant. A plant will not drop its dead leaves, creating an easy-to-spot symptom. The blight is more likely to affect young or damaged bushes, so growers should avoid wounding plants. No fungicide is effective, so pruning or cultural methods are necessary to save an individual plant.

Mummyberry is perhaps the most commonly known blueberry disease and is caused by a fungus. Blighted (brown and red) shoots are the first symptom of mummyberry. Spores form on the shoot and in turn infect the blossoms, causing shriveled, pink fruits to develop. Properly applied fungicides can be used to control mummyberry.