There are different types of tree disease and shrub disease that can affect the plants, trees and shrubs on your property. While good health is the best defense, sometimes trees and shrubs can develop brown leaves and leaf spots can weaken trees and shrubs. Spots are usually a tell tale sign of a disruption to photosynthesis. When trees and shrubs are stressed, they can adversely grow and become susceptible to attacks from fungi and develop insect infestations. You may have even moved to a property with diseased trees – that's okay. We're here to help.
Knowledge from an ISA Certified Arborist
At Belles Tree Service, our ISA Certified Arborists specialize in ways to help treat diseases in trees, keep them healthy, and treat trees proactively with preventative measures. We also understand that some trees and shrubs may be diseased and dying and need to be removed. We'll do all we can to build up their health and bring them back to life!
To keep the immune system of trees and shrubs healthy and recommend treatment for diseased trees along with corrective actions, a disease treatment plan should be established. If you live in the Lehigh Valley or surrounding areas, contact us to set up a tree and shrub disease treatment plan for your property.
Preventative Treatment for Trees and Shrubs
When treating diseased trees, our goal is to protect the environment and protect the ecosystem of the other plants, trees and shrubs on your property. At Belles Tree Service, our treatment plan involves a mixture of biological methodologies to help treat trees and corrective measures to proactively address the underlying issues that caused the sickness in the first place. We want to maintain the balance in the ecosystem and avoid the use of harsh chemicals whenever it is feasibly possible. Hence, the need to have a disease treatment plan that minimizes chemical usage and disruptions to the sensitive balance in the plant ecosystem.
There are a few common tree and shrub diseases. These include:
Anthracnose: Anthracnose is a very common type of fungus that affects trees and some plants. It can cause lesions to develop on leaves, twigs and between the leaf veins. It is commonly found in Ash, Dogwood, Elm, Maple, Oak, and Sycamore trees.
Bleeding Canker: Also known as Phytopthora, it can be very harmful to trees. It's a fungus that injures and weakens plants and trees. Signs include an oozing or bleeding that is black in color. Wood may have a stain to it and that's another sign to look for.
Leaf Spots: Leaf spots are a common fungus that can develop on plants. They can cause what's considered leaf drop and will weaken the leaves as it affects the plant. This makes plants vulnerable to attacks by insects and other pests.
Passalora Needle Blight: This is a serious disease that affects coniferous plants. It starts in the foliage in a plant's interior and can spread to the canopy of the plant. Various types of Cypress, Cedar and Juniper are susceptible to this disease.
Powdery Mildew: A common fungus, this disease is seen on ornamental plants and is common in the Southeast. It has a white powder that emits from the plant. It can affect Lilac and Dogwood. It's not fatal but can damage plants.
Phytopthora: This harmful disease can cause root rot. It's found on woody plants and different types of trees. It can develop if there is too much moisture or water.
Rust: Rust can come in various forms and works as a fungi that can attack entire sections of a plant. If left untreated, plants can become deformed. Tell-tale signs are orange spores and powder that shows on the surface of the plant. The condition is exacerbated by moist and wet conditions that cause the infection to grow and spread.
Seiridium or Cypress Canker: This condition is a very damaging fungus that aggressively attacks plants in the Cypress family. It can attack different types of Cypress and Juniper plants. It is found all around the world but is also very common in the Southeast.
Slime Flux or Wetwood Bacteria: This is a type of bacteria that takes place in the bark of a tree at the roots. Tell-tale signs include a tree's weeping and fluxing as it tries to protect itself from the bacteria to prevent decay from getting worse. If it goes untreated, it can damage the tree's cells, stem, base, and roots before killing it.
Tip Blight: This is a type of fungus that affects various types of coniferous evergreen trees. If conditions are too moist or if there is too much shade for trees, Tip Blight can develop. What to look for? The tips of the trees may start to fade and will eventually turn brown as the infection spreads. It then kills the tree as it affects the branches, stem, base and roots.
If you notice brown spots, disease and decaying trees or shrubs, and see signs of bacteria or fungi on your trees, contact Belles Tree Service right away. We have trained and certified ISA Arborists who can evaluate the trees and shrubs on your property and recommend a treatment plan based on the severity of the issue.
They can also offer recommendations to help the ecosystem not become further damaged, and offer options to protect the other plant life that you have to optimize the health of your other plants, trees and shrubs.