What You Need to Know About Tree Diseases and Pests

If you think about it, plants and trees are a lot like us humans in some ways. Trees need to be cared for if they’re going to grow up to be big and strong. That’s why we water them and give them fertilizer with tons of nutrients. Unfortunately, trees can also catch diseases and are affected by pests that hinder their health and growth. Obviously, they don’t come down with the same diseases as we do, but you get the idea! Continue reading to learn more about these diseases and how we can help treat them.

Common diseases

While there are numerous diseases that may befall your trees, here’s a closer look at a couple of the most common:

• American Chestnut Blight: Despite its name, American Chestnut Blight doesn’t just affect chestnut trees. Though it did virtually wipe out American chestnuts as a commercial species, the fungus can affect any hardwood tree. There is no cure for it, so removal is the only action. Call us today to schedule tree cutting in Newton, MA, and we’ll take care of the issue once and for all.
• Armillaria Root Rot: This fungus is pervasive throughout North America and is a major cause of oak decline. It can kill trees that are already weak, and weakens healthy trees so that they’re susceptible to attacks by other fungi or pests.

Common pests

Similarly, while tree pests number well into the dozens, let’s shine the spotlight on two in particular that you’ll want to watch out for:

• Aphids: Even though leaf-feeding aphids won’t outright kill your trees, they’re incredibly harmful in large populations. They can cause stunting of shoots and eat up your leaves so your tree can’t grow as strong. Aphids also produce a sticky substance that turns black and can lead to mold growth.
• Asian Longhorn Beetle: The Asian Longhorn Beetle was first identified over 20 years ago in Brooklyn, but has since been reported in 14 states. These nasty pests lay their eggs under your tree’s bark. As the larvae grow, they bore into your tree and feed on the wood. The tunnels created by the larvae eventually weaken your tree to the point that it’ll fall apart completely.

What can be done?

Dealing effectively with a tree problem caused by disease or infestation is a matter of taking the right steps to ensure you’re approaching the issue in a smart way:

• Identification: The first step in treatment is identifying the exact cause of your tree’s problem. Much like a doctor would do for you, we can visit your property to give a proper diagnosis. After identifying the root of the problem, we can create a course of action.
• Cutting: More often than not, we’ll have to cut off the branches that have been affected by the disease or pest. Cutting off the affected part will ensure that it doesn’t spread further to nearby trees. Keep in mind that tree cutting in Newton, MA should always be performed by a professional. We know all of the right techniques to get the job done correctly and safely.
• Removal: After those branches are cut off, you can’t just leave them on your property. The disease will still spread even if the branches not attached to the tree anymore. We’ll haul off all of your branches and grind them up.

Give BBD Tree Service a call as soon as you notice something is wrong with your trees. We’ll be out right away to diagnose the issue and cut off the affected branches. You can rest easy knowing that disease won’t come back after we leave the scene!

Categorised in: Tree Cutting

This post was written by Writer