As much as you’d like your tree to live for as long as possible, a lot can get in the way, including tree diseases. Fortunately, if caught early, you can prevent certain diseases from leading to your tree’s death; you just need to know what to look for.
Read on to learn how to identify tree disease and how scheduling professional tree services in Fayetteville, GA, can help get your tree back in tip-top shape.
Examples of Common Tree Diseases
First, though, let’s look at some of the common tree diseases in and around the Fayetteville area:
- Oak wilt: A fungal disease that hinders the flow of water and nutrients to the crown of oak trees, resulting in wilting and death.
- Powdery mildew: Another fungal disease that leaves a distinct white coating on the leaves of various trees.
- Dutch elm disease: Spread by the elm bark beetle, Dutch elm disease causes the yellowing and wilting of your tree’s leaves.
- Root rot: This attacks your tree’s roots, causing their decay and impacting the tree’s water and nutrient uptake.
- Verticillium wilt: This disease is known to cause yellowing, wilting, and crown dieback, usually in deciduous trees.
- Leaf spot: This disease attacks the leaves, causing spots and potential premature leaf drop.
Tree Disease Symptoms
As you can see, not all tree diseases are the same, so the symptoms will differ. Fortunately, there are several signs you can look for to learn how to identify tree disease.
Leaf Discoloration
Most tree diseases will destroy the luscious green that healthy tree leaves sport. For instance, Dutch elm disease and verticillium wilt often turn leaves yellow during the summer months.
Leaf Spots
When checking your tree’s leaves, don’t just look for discoloration. Some diseases can cause your tree’s leaves to develop black or brown spots, which are a telltale sign that something is wrong.
Bark Damage
Inspecting the state of your tree’s bark will also help you detect the presence of fungal infections. Take black knot, for example, a fungal disease that manifests as greenish-brown formations on your tree’s bark. These formations then grow into black, hard galls later on.
Root Rot
Inspecting your tree’s roots can be a challenge. Fortunately, checking for fungi growing at the base of your tree helps determine what condition your tree’s roots are in.
Pest Infestation
Sick trees won’t necessarily display any signs early on. However, since most pests are known to attack unhealthy trees, the presence of a pest infestation can help you know when your tree’s in trouble.
Get Your Tree Professionally Inspected Today
While learning how to identify tree disease will help, it’s still a good idea to reach out to a professional for a more detailed inspection. This is where we come in.
Have you spotted leaf discoloration, bark damage, or tree rot signs? Call Boss Tree Service at (770) 251-8000 and let us give your tree a thorough inspection to determine the problem and promptly address it.