Tree Health Care
Simplify your Trees Health
Homeowners must take action if they notice symptoms like discolored leaves, dead branches, or early leaf drop. It is imperative to contact a local arborist to prevent the problem from escalating. The issue can be minor and easily corrected, or it can be more complex, requiring treatments over several years and multiple underlying causes. To maintain or improve the appearance, vitality, and safety of your landscape, Plant Health Care (PHC) programs are the way to go. These programs use the most cost-effective and environmentally sensitive practices and treatments available and involve routine monitoring and preventive treatment. Building a strong working relationship with your arborist is also key to a successful PHC, so act now to ensure your landscape is in its best possible condition.
Identifying and Treating Tree Diseases
Our method involves precise diagnosis, targeted utilization of elements to battle specific pathogens, and recognizing and fixing weaknesses that may have contributed to the disease. With an all-encompassing approach that involves preventive measures like trimming and soil enhancement, you can be confident that your trees will stay robust for a long time. To properly take care of trees, it's crucial to take a proactive stance rather than a reactive one. By adopting this approach, you can effectively safeguard your trees from diseases that can lead to serious harm. A targeted foliar treatment is an effective method to combat these pathogens in your trees. Such treatments can significantly reduce the level of infection in treated leaves, but prompt action is key. To achieve optimal results, it's essential to begin antifungal and antibacterial applications early in the season. If treatment is postponed, your arborist may need to wait until the following season to initiate the process. Keeping your trees healthy is crucial to maintaining the beauty of your yard. Trees are like any other plant, they require care and attention to avoid falling ill. A sick tree can pose a risk to your home and family, so it's important to contact a local tree service if you notice any signs of illness. Tree diseases can be categorized into foliage, stem, root, and forest tree nursery and regeneration diseases. It's important to note that tree diseases can vary by region and can be difficult to identify. Numerous bacterial diseases can harm plants and trees, such as Bacterial blast, Bacterial blight, Bacterial canker, Bacterial leaf scorch, Oak Blossom blast, Walnut Blossom blight and canker, Bunch disease, Crown gall, Quince Decline, Fire blight, Fruit spot, Leaf and shoot blight, Leaf blight, and brown rot, Leaf spot, Lethal decline, Lethal yellows, Phloem necrosis, Stem canker, Stubborn disease, Tip dieback, Vascular yellows, Wetwood/slime flux, Witches’ broom (caused by mycoplasma-like organisms), and X-disease. These diseases can severely impact the health and growth of plants and trees. Therefore, it is crucial to take immediate action to prevent and treat them if you observe any signs of these diseases in your plants or trees. We recommend seeking advice from a professional to determine the best course of action.
Below, are some of the most common tree diseases found in Florida
Lethal Bronzing
is caused by phytoplasma, a type of bacteria that infects a plant's phloem tissue. The disease is spread through the bite of a planthopper insect called Haplaxius crudus. These insects are difficult to spot due to their small size and ability to blend in, and they reside high up in palm trees. The bacteria live in the guts of these insects and are transferred from tree to tree through their mouth parts. This is a severe problem for palm tree populations.
Ganodema
This disease is extremely aggressive and targets the root system of the tree, often resulting in its eventual death. The pathogen enters the tree through any tear or damaged root, causing the leaves to wilt and turn yellow, the tree to lose its vitality, and the sapwood to decay. The formation of fruiting bodies, or conks, on the trunk's lower part is also a common symptom. Unfortunately, when conks appear, it is usually too late for the tree, and the disease proves fatal. Regrettably, there is no effective treatment for this disease, and the only preventive measure is to ensure the tree's roots never become damaged.
Oak Wilt
is an aggressive disease that causes oaks to wilt and typically die. It's caused by a fungal pathogen and kills thousands of oak trees each year. If your oak tree is wilting, dropping leaves early, or changing color, it could be a sign of oak wilt. This fungus spreads through root grafts, so it's important to confirm with a licensed arborist. Vascular streaking in the sapwood is another common symptom. For mature tree care, seeking professional help is crucial.
Laurel Wilt
is a lethal fungal disease is caused by Raffaelea lauricola, which is introduced by the nonnative redbay ambrosia beetle. In addition, watch for tiny holes with sawdust tubes appearing on the trunk and limbs. Unfortunately, insecticides and fungicides have not been successful in treating laurel wilt. The most effective solution is to remove the infected tree to slow down the disease's spread. Make sure to chip or burn the tree, including the stump
Annosus Root Disease
affects pines and is caused by a fungus that enters the tree through a wound, causing growth loss or death. Trees with this disease are prone to windthrow and breakage. Westwood and Slime Flux cause major trunk rot in hardwoods.
Fusiform Wilt
is a serious disease caused by a fungus that affects pine trees, particularly slash pine and loblolly. It shows up as cigar-shaped galls on the stem, yellow-orange blisters on the galls, and rust-colored spores. Infected trees can be dangerous and should be removed in urban areas, though removing bark can help in some cases
Slime Flux
shows itself as bleeding sap and can cause dieback or decline. It's important to contact a local tree service if you notice any signs of illness in your trees.
Brown Spot Needle Blight
is a serious disease that affects the longleaf pine. It causes small dots on the needles that vary in color from straw yellow to light brown. As needles die, they may look like they've been scorched by heat.
