SERVICES
Tree Diseases
Often abiotic (nonliving) factors such as water stress, nutrient deficiency, planting depth, etc... are mistaken for a plant disease. An accurate diagnosis is the first step in managing disease. At tree health services we offer treatments for various fungal diseases such as apple scab, rhizosphera needle cast, dothistroma and diplodia needle blight, oak wilt, Dutch elm disease and others.
Apple scab
Apple scab is a leaf disease that attacks a wide range of hosts. It is most commonly seen affecting crabapple and apple trees. This fungal disease causes premature leaf loss which mostly effects the cosmetic value of the tree. Preventative sprays in the early spring are the best way to manage this rarely fatal disease. We make sure fungicide applications are timed correctly to minimize damage.
Diplodia (Sphaeropsis) tip blight
Diplodia tip blight is a common fungal disease that is most often seen on stressed pine trees. Austrian pines are very susceptible to Diplodia and should not be planted. The best prevention of this disease is to prevent tree stress, particularly water stress. The first step in controling Diplodia in trees is to prune/remove the diseased branches. After that fungicide treatments can help prevent new infections from occuring. Our timely applications are done in spring to help protect new growth against diplodia tip blight.
Rhizosphera needle cast
Rhizosphera is a fungal disease that causes needle loss in spruces and pines. Colorado blue spruce is very susceptible to rhizosphera and should not be planted. Proper plant spacing, preventing tree stress, pruning diseased branches and promoting airflow within the tree are important strategies in controling Rhizosphera. We do offer preventative fungicide treatments to minimize needle loss.
Oak wilt
Oak wilt is a fatal disease that targets oak trees in Wisconsin. Avoid pruning oak trees in the months of April through September in Wisconsin to reduce the spread of oak wilt by sap feeding beetles. Certain fungicide treatments can help prevent the spread of oak wilt.
