Have you been noticing that your trees are dying earlier than usual? This could be a sign that your tree is suffering from either a tree infestation or a tree disease. If you find this to be the case, it’s important to seek out immediate treatment, not only for your tree’s health but for the health of neighboring trees and plants.
Below we have prepared 7 tree pests and diseases to keep an eye out for as you prepare for this winter and next spring. It’s important for you to take note of any concerns before the springtime, as some of these pests are dormant during the winter. It’s recommended that you consult your local tree service company and pest control to deal with these pests.
Here Are 7 Tree Pests & Diseases to Look For Before Spring
Throughout the year, it’s important to keep track of how your trees are doing. If you notice that some of them have been wilting, dying earlier than usual, or are yellowing, it’s possible that your tree is suffering from either pests or a fungal disease. Some but not all pests and diseases die in the winter, so it’s important to keep track of what problems you may have. That way, you, your local pest control, and your tree service companies can take care of these pests and diseases before they become real headaches.
Take a look at this list of tree bugs and tree diseases commonly seen in Northwest Indiana, how you can identify them, and how you and your local tree service and pest control companies can work to keep your trees healthy. It is recommended that you always seek professional tree care services and/or pest control services in your area before attempting any tree treatments, tree trimmings, or tree removals.
1. Anthracnose
Anthracnose is a fungal infection which develops from wet leaves on the ground and grows onto full trees during the winter to spring transition. The disease can cause deep dark spots on leaves, branches, and twigs. If you notice the lower half of your tree has a remarkable amount of leaf loss, but the top of your tree seems to be thriving, then your tree could be suffering from Anthracnose.
If you believe your tree is suffering from Anthracnose, fear not! Anthracnose is not lethal to trees, and the infection can usually be fought off naturally anywhere between a few weeks to a few months. However, you can still treat your tree by utilizing fungicide to help prevent the spread of this tree illness.
Additionally, there are many preventative measures you can take to ensure that Anthracnose never even has the chance to develop. You can arrange routine tree trimmings and prunings with your local tree service provider. You can rake dying or dead leaves in the fall so they can properly decompose and not be exposed to any wet weather in the spring. You can also utilize routine winter yard maintenance to prevent this tree fungi from developing in the spring.
2. Oak Wilt
Oak Wilt is a fungal infection which attacks an oak tree’s vascular system by plugging its water canals and halts all nutrient transportation throughout the tree. As a result, the oak tree dies slowly. Oak Wilt attacks and kills all of the 17 oak species we have in Indiana. It’s imperative that you keep an eye on your oak trees for Oak Wilt year round.
Unfortunately, there is no known cure for Oak Wilt. Very few oak trees survive the infection. You can slow down the spread of the disease through propiconazole fungicide, but eventually the tree will die. To prevent further spread, safe removal of the diseased tree is highly recommended.
There are many ways you can prevent Oak Wilt. For starters, if you’re planning on taking care of an area that’s known for Oak Wilt, do not prune, trim, or remove those trees from about March to August. The safe period to prune, trim, or remove infected branches is from November to February, when the disease is inactive.
3. Phytophthora Root Rot
Phytophthora Root Rot is yet another fungal infection that can cause severe damage to tree roots. Several symptoms include: yellowing and wilting of the tree foliage, and dieback of branches. This disease is caused by too much water in too compact of soil, or when free water is on plant surfaces for a prolonged period of time.
The most effective way to treat this root rot is to remove the infected roots and apply fungicide to the tree or soil to prevent further spread. It may also be worth it to amend your non-infected soil so that your roots have more oxygen and will not develop another infection.
Since Phytophthora Root Rot is usually caused by a lack of oxygen for the roots, substantial drainage and good water management in the soil is a good way to prevent the root rot.
4. Dutch Elm Disease
Dutch Elm Disease is caused by elm beetles, which lay their eggs on top of elm trees. When those eggs hatch, the new beetles spread a fungus that infects the rest of the tree. You might notice that clusters of branches will turn yellow, wilt, and then die in the late spring/early summer time.
There is not a specific cure for Dutch Elm Disease. However, with the help of your local pest control and tree service, you may be able to safely survey, timely prune, and dispose of the infected limbs.
You can prevent Dutch Elm Disease through tree injection of fungicide. This inject specifically targets the disease and protects your trees from the beetles that cause it, while protecting the rest of your environment.
5. Spotted Lanternfly
An invasive species, the spotted lanternfly damages trees, crops, and other plants. They nest on trees and plants, laying an egg mass which then hatches and releases anywhere between 30-50 lanternflies in your area. They feed on tree sap and then release honeydew, which will mold and damage the entire tree.
Since the spotted lanternfly is an invasive species, it’s important to report any sightings to your local pest control service. That way, they can keep track of the spread of the species in our state. Mating and egg placement begins in September, so it’s important to keep an eye out now! Luckily, their eggs will not hatch until May, so there is plenty of time for your or your local pest control and tree care services to identify and remove eggs before they hatch.
To prevent the spotted lanternfly egg mass from a given surface, simply scrape it off with a stick or another useful tool. Then, it’s recommended that you step on the egg mass to ensure that none of them hatch. It’s also recommended that you confer with your local tree care and pest control services respectively before you attempt to remove anything from a tree.
6. Bagworms
Bagworms are caterpillars that feed on trees and decrease their overall health. Young bagworms will leave small holes in the leaves, but mature bagworms can eat through entire leaves and pine needles. This can leave your tree in a very bad state.
However, these caterpillars can be handled with insecticide, or by drowning them in a soapy bucket while they’re cocooned over the winter. As always, it’s recommended that you consult with your pest control and tree care service professionals before attempting any tree care or pest control on your own. Get in touch with your local pest control and tree care services so you can determine exactly what your tree needs.
The best way to prevent bagworms is to spray insecticide anywhere you’ve seen evidence of bagworms. Again, it’s important to consult professionals and make sure you have bagworms on your hands before spraying any kind of chemicals on your trees.
7. Emerald Ash Borer
Another invasive species to Indiana, the Emerald Ash Borer is a species of beetle that lays eggs on – you guessed it! – ash trees. Once the eggs hatch, the new beetles burrow underneath the tree bark before exiting at adulthood. Common signs that you’ve got these pesky beetles is that your tree will lose leaves beginning from the canopy and gradually dying down the tree. You may also spot exit holes caused by the burrowing beetles, followed by little spouts of water if there is enough damage. These exit holes may present themselves in a “D” pattern, and the ash borers burrow in an “S” pattern inside the trunk.
While native woodpeckers and parasitoids have learned to feed on the emerald ash borers, it might not be enough to defend your tree. Luckily, insecticides can help you eradicate these pesky tree bugs.
Additionally, you can prevent these pests from burrowing into your tree or stop them from spreading through a preventative tree trunk injection. This way, you can prevent the spread of EAB while also protecting the rest of your environment.
Let’s Review: Tree Pests & Tree Diseases To Look For
In summary, there are a lot of pests and diseases to watch out for as you prepare for winter and spring. If your trees appear to be yellowing, dying quickly, or you’ve been noticing strange additions to your tree bark (egg masses, dark spots, etc), then you should call your local tree and pest experts to take a look. Once you’ve determined the cause of your tree illness, it’s important to take immediate action to get your tree on the mend. But remember, some of these tree bugs and tree fungi have specific seasons in which they’re active, so be sure to consult your local experts to ensure the safety of your trees!
Don’t Wait Until You Have A Problem – Call T&T Tree Service for a Tree Inspection Today!
You should never have to take care of pesky tree bugs or a worrying tree fungus on your own. Luckily, T&T Tree Service is here to help! We offer remarkable tree care in the region, including routine tree trimmings and maintenance, safe tree removals, effective stump grinding, and more.
If you think you have tree pests or a tree disease on your hands, you need to call T&T Tree Service for an immediate inspection. We’re ready to take your call.