Are these common tree diseases impacting your home’s landscape?
There’s nothing quite like trees for helping our properties look their best. From a tree’s sturdy presence to the annual blooming of its flowers, they add a natural appeal to both residential and commercial properties.
Like any living thing, however, trees in our area are susceptible to illness. These common MD tree diseases can distract from a tree’s natural beauty, adding ugly or unsightly lumps and colorations.
Beyond the aesthetics, though, these tree diseases can also cause damage and spread to other vegetation. How bad can it get? Unchecked, all the affected plants or trees could be destroyed.
By learning how to tell the signs of common MD tree diseases, we can try to stop that from happening.
Below, we’re sharing information about five common tree diseases here in Maryland, along with important information about how they spread and what we can do to protect your trees from them.
Bacterial Leaf Scorch
Leaf scorch is a common MD tree disease that happens when bacteria grows in a tree’s vascular tissue and prevents water from reaching the roots.
Shade trees like oak, elm, and maple are most frequently affected by leaf scorch.
Bacterial leaf scorch is spread by infected insects that feed on shade trees, such as spittlebugs and treehoppers. The tree’s leaves begin to darken and slowly fall off as the disease spreads.
It starts by affecting just the leaves nearest to the root system. The entire tree can be affected if the growth is left unchecked.
Root Rot
Root rot is a dangerous fungus that affects pine and evergreen trees that were planted in sandy or very wet soils. Like the name suggests, root rot contaminates and gradually destroys the root systems of the trees.
Looking for signs of root rot? Excessive needle loss, odd tree growth, splitting or dead bark, and discolored wood close to the tree’s base are some of the root rot symptoms.
Unfortunately, root rot can be complicated to get rid of. Even after the original tree has been removed, it will continue to impact the soil and contaminate other trees nearby.
For help removing root rot, Beautiful Country Tree Service can get rid of any and all sick roots and trees to help your soil recover completely.
Brown Rot
Brown rot is another tree disease that results from fungus. In most cases, the main trees affected by brown rot are cherry trees.
As opposed to infecting the roots like root rot does, brown rot creeps inside cherry blossoms and infects the tree from there. This rot is spread by insects or by the wind.
How to tell if your cherry trees are dealing with brown rot? Typical symptoms of brown rot include withering, discolored leaves, or brown blooms.
Oak Wilt
Oak wilt is a common tree disease in Maryland that affects both red and black oak trees.
One way to tell if a tree has oak wilt is by seeing a line that divides the tree’s leaves between brown and green.
During the summer months, oak wilt also causes the leaves to wither and fall off the trees.
Fire Blight
Fire blight is another bacterial disease that often strikes fruit trees like apple and pear trees. It is commonly spread by tree pollinators.
Check the branches of your fruit trees to see if they have fire blight. If they have brown or black leaves at the tips, that is likely fire blight, so it’s time to call Beautiful Country Tree Service for help.
Keep Your Trees Healthy With Beautiful Country Tree Service
Even when you know the symptoms of these common MD tree diseases, you may still need help fully protecting your trees.
That’s where Beautiful Country Tree Service can step in. With expert tree specialists knowledgeable about our region’s native trees, you can trust us to help keep your property’s trees healthy.
For more information about your trees’ health and how we can help, contact Beautiful Country Tree Service today.