Troubleshooting
Pink Lady flowering quince problems — and how to fix them
Pink Lady flowering quince (Chaenomeles x superba 'Pink Lady') is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Powdery mildew
White powdery coating on leaves in warm, dry summers. Improve air circulation by thinning the centre of the shrub after flowering. Apply a fungicide containing myclobutanil if severe.
Fireblight (Erwinia amylovora)
Shoots blacken and wilt rapidly, resembling scorching. Cut back at least 30 cm into healthy wood, sterilising tools between cuts; dispose of material by burning or binning.
Suckering
This cultivar suckers freely, which can cause it to spread beyond its allotted space. Remove suckers at ground level (ideally by pulling rather than cutting) as soon as they appear to avoid a thicket.
Prevent pink lady flowering quince problems before they start
Most pink lady flowering quince issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Pink Lady flowering quince problems — FAQ
Why is my pink lady flowering quince powdery mildew?
White powdery coating on leaves in warm, dry summers. Improve air circulation by thinning the centre of the shrub after flowering. Apply a fungicide containing myclobutanil if severe.
Why is my pink lady flowering quince fireblight (erwinia amylovora)?
Shoots blacken and wilt rapidly, resembling scorching. Cut back at least 30 cm into healthy wood, sterilising tools between cuts; dispose of material by burning or binning.
Why is my pink lady flowering quince suckering?
This cultivar suckers freely, which can cause it to spread beyond its allotted space. Remove suckers at ground level (ideally by pulling rather than cutting) as soon as they appear to avoid a thicket.