Your home’s property can be visually striking and more valuable with healthy trees. But, unfortunately, it can be heartbreaking to find a tree with pests or diseases. Without proper treatment, the problems could transfer to other trees and plants on your property. Therefore, our Tri-Cities ISA-certified arborists at Promier Tree share on the blog today three common tree diseases in Tennessee so that you spot the early warning signs, seek a health evaluation, and apply the appropriate treatment.
1. Powdery Mildew
Gardeners may be familiar with powdery mildew, as it often threatens various squash plants or zucchini crops. Powdery mildew appears on leaves as a white, powder-like substance spread out in fungal mats. Kingsport arborists warn that powdery mildew can spread quickly and easily transmit to other trees. Most trees can survive powdery mildew, but it can cause aesthetic issues and stunt their growth. Therefore, once identified, it’s critical to treat the disease and prevent it from spreading. In some cases, a fungicide application can help, but pruning diseased sections can keep the fungus from getting out of control. Pruning can also improve airflow, which reduces humidity that encourages powdery mildew growth.
2. Thousand Cankers Disease
Although powdery mildew may seem harmless, thousand cankers disease can stunt tree growth or kill them. The thousand cankers disease severe threat killed countless trees in the United States and continues to pose a threat to local economies and your home’s property value. Black walnut trees are particularly susceptible to the fungus due to twig beetles burrowing under the tree bark surface. As they make their paths, the tunnels provide opportunities for the pathogen to begin growth, eventually damaging or potentially killing your tree. Thousand cankers disease causes cankers underneath the tree bark and often leads to stem and branch death. Unfortunately, no controlling method or mitigating efforts can save your infected trees. Therefore, consult with a licensed arborist in Johnson City to evaluate your tree’s health and determine the best time to remove and destroy infected trees.
3. Septoria Leaf Spot
Dogwood trees are most common to have Septoria leaf spot, a fungal illness. Appearing as tiny rusty brown spots on tree foliage or plant flowers, infected areas dry, and the plant’s leaves will begin to die and fall off. Although Septoria leaf spot is not deadly to your tree, it could create negative future growth and health challenges. Like many fungal diseases, humidity is paramount to spread Septoria leaf spot disease to fallen leaves or yard waste piles. Therefore, Bristol ISA-certified arborists encourage pruning once a year to maintain proper airflow, decaying limb removal, and the destruction of infected yard waste or tree trimmings. Without stopping the disease or removing it from your property, your reinfection risk increases if the disease survives the winter. In turn, your tree could become more vulnerable to other diseases, and its survivability risk dramatically decreases.
Certified Arborist in Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol, Tennessee
Similar to humans, your property’s trees can become diseased. Although some conditions are worse than others, experienced ISA-certified arborists in Kingsport encourage proper tree care to reduce your pest infestation or disease development risk. Therefore, please feel free to contact Promier Tree at (423) 872-2988 or contact us online to ask questions or schedule a consultation. We look forward to keeping your Tri-Cities trees healthy!