Like any other living organism, trees are susceptible to various illnesses. Tree pest infestations, bacterial diseases, and fungal infections take their toll, and being aware of the most common tree diseases can help you identify their early warning signs. The sooner you recognize signs of trouble with your plants, the sooner you can schedule treatments to restore their health.
As a leading provider of comprehensive tree services in Fort Collins, CO, Top-Notch Tree Service has ample experience identifying and treating various tree diseases. Consult our guide below to learn about the seven most common illnesses and pests that could jeopardize the health of your plants.
1. Fire Blight
This tree blight mostly affects apple and pear trees, but also hawthornes, cotoneasters, mountain ashes, and firethorns. Fire blight comes from the bacterium Erwinia amylovora. While it can impact various parts of the tree, leaf damage is usually the first sign of trouble.
2. Anthracnose
Anthracnose is a fungal tree disease that primarily affects Pacific and eastern dogwoods. American sycamore, and common hardwoods like oak, walnut, and maple. It causes leaves to turn brown and die during the summer when they should be green.
3. Canker Rot
Oak trees are vulnerable to canker rot, a disease that attacks the plant from its heartwood, and then it spreads outward. It causes tree cankers that appear yellow or yellowish-brown. Soon after the fruiting bodies appear, they begin to degrade, indicating the tree’s severe health deterioration.
4. Annosus Root Rot
Annosus root rot is one of the most common tree diseases that impacts conifers. The Fomes annosus fungus infects freshly cut tree stumps. The infection produces conks that grow on the root collars of living or dead trees, but they may also be visible on stumps.
5. Aphids
Aphids are a common pest that affects different kinds of trees. You might think your plants are dripping sap, but they could have an aphid infection.
These tiny insects feed off sap through leaves and produce a sticky, clear excretion called honeydew. The sticky honeydew often attracts a black fungus called sooty mold, which can cause several tree health issues.
6. Hawthorne Leaf Blight
If you have hawthorne trees on your property, you should watch for signs of hawthorne leaf blight. The condition causes tiny reddish-brown leaf spots. Over time, the space between each spot will yellow, and the foliage will die.
7. Emerald Ash Borers
Emerald Ash borers are invasive insects responsible for the demise of innumerable trees. As their name suggests, the beetles have a metallic green body, making them easily recognizable. They primarily feed on and nest within ash, olive, and white fringetrees.
Get Help With Bacterial Tree Diseases, Pests, and Fungal Infections Today
You don’t have to let your trees succumb to common tree diseases in Fort Collins, Colorado. At Top-Notch Tree Service, we employ professional ISA-certified arborists who provide tree health care services, which include:
- Comprehensive tree health diagnostics
- Tree pest management
- Treatment for bacterial and fungal tree infections
Improve and maintain the health of your trees! Contact us today at (970) 556-5000 to schedule a tree health assessment.