Management

In ornamental nurseries, the best preventive measures against the disease include maintaining adequate spacing between plants to reduce humidity and avoiding the use of mist irrigation systems for the same reason. Additionally, since shot holes containing fungal pycnidia fall from the leaves, they should be collected and properly disposed of to prevent further spread of the disease.

Streptomycin can effectively control the disease when it is caused by bacteria. However, there are documented cases where streptomycin became ineffective in nurseries where it had been used repeatedly over several years. Moreover, its use on crops is now banned in many countries, including those in the EU.

Preventive treatments with copper-based or systemic fungicides may help control the disease, but there is currently no research confirming their effectiveness.

In urban areas, the best preventive approach is to avoid planting cherry laurel in locations with full sun, as it prefers partially shaded environments. It is also important to remove and destroy fallen shot hole debris to minimize disease spread.