If you have trees on your property in Columbia, IL, it is your responsibility to take care of them. The health of a tree can play a big part in the value of your home. You need to properly trim and prune them and make sure they are not getting damaged in any way among other things. One of the most important parts of regular tree maintenance is ensuring that your tree does not suffer from any diseases. Here we will be discussing some of the most common types of diseases your trees can get.
Tree Blight
Tree Blight is caused by bacteria and fungus and can cause your tree to wilt as well as brown the leaves and causes dieback of leaves and twigs.
Gall
Galls are abnormal growths of tissue on a tree which is caused by parasites from fungi, bacteria, mites, or insects. They can appear on a tree trunk, a twig, a branch, or a leaf.
Sooty Mold
Sooty mold is a fungus that grows on the honeydew deposited by aphids. You will notice this issue if you see a black growth around your tree’s leaves.
Verticillium Wilt
This is a soil-born fungus that results whenever a tree’s leaves begin to yellow, wilt, and die over time. Homeowners also have noted that the wood under the bark also begins to become discolored in stripes.
Dutch Elm Disease
This is a fungal disease that affects American Elms. It will cause the clogging of vascular tissue, which in turn prevents the movement of water in the tree, causing the tree to wilt and die. The big indicator for this disease is dying branches. If you need to check for this disease, you can cut a live branch and check for any brown streaking in the sapwood.
Rust
This is what happens whenever tree fungus causes Galls to grow on the tree. This is an issue usually seen on apple trees.
Black Knot
Black Knot is seen when warty swelling develops on the bark which causes fungal disease. This is a disease that commonly affects plum and cherry trees.
Anthracnose
This fungal disease causes leaf blight and the development of brown blotches and discoloration on the tree. This is seen on Oak, Dogwood, and Sycamore trees among others.
Leaf Scorch
This disease causes browning or dead areas around the leaves. This is a common problem for trees in Columbia, IL
Chlorosis
Lack of Chlorophyll causes this disease. It is caused by a lack of nutrients in the soil as well as droughts, high levels of pH, or soil compaction.
Tree diseases can be an immense problem for not only your tree’s health but the appearance of your yard. If you notice any of these issues with your tree and are not sure what to do, give our expert team over at Merritt’s Tree Service a call today!