The trees on your property offer shade and beauty, but diseased trees can pose a danger. If you aren’t a trained arborist, it can be challenging to determine what kind of disease is affecting your tree. Keep reading to learn about ten common tree diseases and the signs to help you know what you face on your property.
#1: Anthracnose
First, let’s examine one of the most common diseases plaguing deciduous trees, including ash, oak, and sycamore. This disease produces dark lesions that appear sunken on stems, leaves, flowers, and tree fruits.
#2: Apple Scab
Apple scab is common on apple and crab apple trees. It results from a fungus infecting fruit and leaves. Unfortunately, fruit from a tree with apple scab is unsuitable for eating. The spots on the leaves start as an olive-green shade and eventually turn brown and black. The fruit also turns brown and becomes deformed.
#3: Canker Diseases
Several different types of canker diseases can lead to sick trees. It occurs when bacterial or fungal pathogens infect the sapwood or bark through a lesion or wound, resulting in a blockage of the vascular system and reduced nutrient flow to the tree. As a result, the branches often die, or the entire tree can die.
#4: Cedar-Apple Rust
Furthermore, cedar-apple rust fungal disease requires both the cedar and apple or crab apple tree to develop. The fungal spores move through the wind from the cedar to the apple tree. Indicators of cedar-apple rust include bright yellowish-orange spots on the leaves and the fruit. Other signs include swollen fruit, stunted twigs, and fruit that drops prematurely.
#5: Diplodia Tip Blight
This particular blight disease is most common in conifers that are stressed. Signs include stunted new growth or growth that becomes yellow and brown.
#6: Dothistroma Needle Blight
When pine needles turn brownish at the tips, you may have a case of this fatal tree disease. Additionally, trees commonly affected by this disease include the Ponderosa pine and Austrian pine. Eventually, the entire needle becomes brown, dead, and falls off the tree.
#7: Fire Blight
If your tree branches have a fire-scorched appearance with black leaves, they will likely suffer from fire blight. This blight sporadically infects the twigs, leading to dead leaves in different areas of the tree. Fire blight is common in environments with warm and moist weather.
#8: Oak Wilt
Another disease, oak wilt, specifically affects oak trees. It tends to be fatal for tree species in the red oak category, while white oak trees tend to be less at risk. Oak wilt begins at the top of the tree, with leaves wilting and turning brown. In addition, trees can transmit the disease through their root systems or by beetles.
#9: Powdery Mildew
Spotting this fungal tree disease is manageable. Look for a white powder coating on the leaves. Over time, the leaves become deformed, turn yellow, and often drop prematurely to the ground. Trees most susceptible to powdery mildew include those in shady areas with high humidity but little to no rainfall.
#10: Phytophthora Root Rot
Finally, this fungal disease attacks trees growing on sites with poor water drainage. Root rot causes trees to appear stressed, often due to drought, and results in wilting, yellow, or pale green leaves.
At Engram’s Tree Service, our certified arborist can help you diagnose any tree disease and develop a plan of care to help you protect your property. Connect with us now to schedule service or learn more about common tree diseases.