Verticillium Wilt

• The Prunus caroliniana is susceptible to verticillium wilt but can only contract the disease if it is planted in an area that is already contaminated with the disease. A soil-borne disease, verticillium wilt infects the cherry laurel through its root system and causes a gradual breakdown of the tree's vascular system. The restricted system becomes unable to pass nutrients and water through it, which causes the cherry laurel's canopy to suffer. The tree experiences an overall decline of health, including wilt, discoloration, dieback and growth stunt. There is no cure for verticillium wilt and the infected cherry laurel should be removed and destroyed. Avoid replanting in the area because the verticillium wilt fungus can live for many years in the soil without a host.
  
  

Leaf Spot

• Leaf spot is a common foliage disease that is most aggressive after the cool, rainy periods of spring. The spores of this fungal disease travel via wind and water. Once infected, the cherry laurel's foliage develops small, necrotic spots that are usually outlined with reddish or purplish borders. The tree experiences premature defoliation and often displays signs of growth stunt and dieback. The disease is easily treated with pruning and chemical fungicidal treatments. However, the hardy cherry laurel can withstand untreated leaf spot infections with little injury.
  
  

Fire Blight

• A destructive disease, fire blight is caused by harmful bacteria that infects all areas of the cherry laurel, including its flowers, foliage, stems and branches. The infected cherry laurel can display signs of infection as early as the first few days of spring. The infection causes the tree to develop cankers that ooze a light-colored bacterial fluid. The cherry laurel's flowers and stems are blackened and killed, and the foliage and newly developing shoots become wilted and distorted, if they are not killed by the infection. The cherry laurel's infected branches and other woody areas also turn brown and black before falling from the tree. The cherry laurel's infected areas must be pruned from the tree with sharp, sterile shears in order to control this contagious disease. Chemical treatments are effective with multiple professional treatments; however, severely infected trees should be removed and destroyed to prevent cross-infections.
  
  

Stem Canker

• While stem canker is the Prunus caroliniana's most common canker disease, it is susceptible to many variations of canker disease. These canker diseases cause raised, woody cankers as well as sunken, hollow cankers that feed on the tree's tissue. Many factors, including drought or winter injury, improper pruning cuts and over-fertilizing, cause canker diseases. The canker diseases enter the cherry laurel through its wounds and injuries. The infected cherry laurel experiences canker development, as well branch and stem dieback, wilting and discolored foliage and loss of overall vigor. Some canker diseases can be treated when addressed early. The infected areas must be pruned from the tree before applying a fungicidal spray treatments.