Want your trees to stay healthy for years?
Tree diseases are getting more prevalent, which can kill off an otherwise healthy garden. The worst part is…most people don’t see the signs until it’s too late.
The good news?
Taking care of your garden trees isn’t difficult. If you know what you’re looking for, identifying and treating diseases is easy.
Here’s what you need to know…
What you’ll learn:
- Why Garden Tree Maintenance Is Important
- Common Tree Diseases (& How To Identify Them)
- How To Treat Tree Diseases Effectively
- When To Call In The Professionals
Why Garden Tree Maintenance Is Important
Looking after trees often gets overlooked by homeowners. After all, they pretty much look after themselves, right?
Wrong.
Trees can suffer from diseases, pests, and environmental damage just like any other plant. These things don’t go away on their own. Without maintenance, they will get progressively worse. And the worse they get… the harder they are to treat.
Another thing to consider is tree diseases don’t just stop at the one tree. They can spread to surrounding trees nearby (including your neighbour’s). Beech bark disease is estimated to cost businesses £37 million annually in the UK alone.
For these reasons, taking care of your trees is vital. Spotting problems early on and knowing when to call in a qualified tree surgeon can mean the difference between saving your tree… and starting again.
And prevention is always better than cure.
Common Tree Diseases (& How To Identify Them)
Alright – let’s get into the good stuff.
Here are the most common tree diseases homeowners should know about. Familiarise yourself with them, so you know what to look for.
Ash Dieback
Ash dieback is potentially the biggest threat to trees in the UK at the moment.
Ash dieback is caused by a fungus that affects ash trees. Although it can be contained, ash dieback is likely to cost Britain £15 billion eventually. That should give you a good idea of how serious this disease is.
Symptoms include:
- Dark lesions on leaves
- Leaves falling off/Early leaf loss
- Diamond shaped lesions on bark
- Blackening and wilting shoots
If your ash trees display any of these symptoms, you need to get professional help ASAP. Once ash dieback infects your garden it’ll spread like wildfire – and there’s no known cure yet.
Honey Fungus
Looks innocent, but this fungus poses a huge threat to trees.
Honey fungus is one of the leading causes of tree death within UK gardens. It attacks tree roots, slowly strangling the tree until it eventually kills them off. By the time signs are visible, the damage is often done.
Signs to look out for include:
- White fungal growth on bark at soil level
- Small honey coloured mushrooms at tree base (Autumn time)
- Sudden death of branches
- Leaves become smaller and discoloured
The worst part about honey fungus is that it can affect nearly every species of tree and shrub.
Powdery Mildew
This fungal disease gets its name from its white powdery substance on leaves.
Powdery mildew is easily identifiable if you know what you’re looking for. Although it isn’t usually fatal to trees, it will severely weaken them over time. When trees are weakened, they’re more susceptible to other infections.
Typical signs include:
- White or grey spots on leaves and stems
- Distorted/disfigured new growth
- Leaves falling down prematurely
- Stunted shoots
Powdery mildew spreads rapidly in warm, dry climates. Trees planted too close together create the perfect opportunity for this fungus to grow.
Canker
Canker isn’t technically a disease. It’s more of an infection.
Canker diseases are responsible for killing large limbs and branches due to the damage they inflict on the bark. Certain types of canker can kill your entire tree if left untreated.
Spot the disease by looking for:
- Sunken patches of bark (raised on trees like Ash)
- Bark splitting away from infection site
- Formation of sap or resin oozing from the tree
- Dead branches/limbs above infection site
Similar to honey fungus, many types of canker enter through damage on the tree. This is why correct pruning technique is essential for tree maintenance.
How To Treat Tree Diseases Effectively
Think you’ve spotted a problem with your tree? Don’t worry – here’s how to treat them…
Step 1: Identify the disease. Before treating a tree, you must properly identify the issue at hand. Treating your tree for the wrong problem will get you nowhere.
Once you’ve identified the disease, you can begin treatment.
Step 2: Follow these general guidelines. Each tree disease is different, but most can be treated using similar techniques.
- Prune affected areas: Cut away diseased branches and foliage all the way back to healthy wood. Disinfect your tools in between each cut to prevent spreading disease.
- Allow airflow: Give your tree plenty of room to grow. By thinning out crowded areas, you allow air to flow through. Trees are less likely to develop fungal diseases with good air circulation.
- Remove fallen debris: Leaves and broken branches should be disposed of immediately, not left to compost. This debris can easily re-infect your tree if left around.
- Feed & water: A happy tree is a healthy tree. Water your tree regularly and keep on top of treatments like fertilising and mulching.
Easy, right?
But there’s one thing to remember…
Not all tree diseases can be treated by homeowners. Some diseases require special equipment or treatments that only a certified professional can carry out. When in doubt, always consult someone.
When To Call In The Professionals
Yes – sometimes it’s best to leave tree maintenance to the professionals.
If you’ve tried treating your tree and haven’t seen any improvements, it may be time to seek some help.
You should consider contacting a professional if:
- The disease is on the trunk/major limbs
- Tree is very large
- Multiple trees are infected
- You’re not sure what the problem is
Don’t worry – professionals can still identify the issue and provide you with the best solution.
Final Thoughts
Tree diseases can be problematic if left untreated. That being said, most issues can be prevented through regular garden tree maintenance.
Let’s recap:
- Regularly inspect trees for disease
- Learn about common tree diseases and the signs to look for
- Treat diseases as early as possible
- Properly prune trees and maintain good airflow
- Don’t be afraid to call in professional help
Taking care of your garden trees will help them live longer, healthier lives. And healthy trees = happy homeowners.
