Tree pests and diseases are every gardener’s nightmare and for a good reason – they cause damage to the tree’s aesthetics, weaken its integrity, and, in some instances lead to its death. These issues can cause hazardous situations like damage to the property or serious bodily injuries resulting from falling limbs or toppling of the tree.
There are a host of Bay City tree pests and diseases that can render your tree a potential hazard. Knowing how to identify them will help you take the necessary actions to prevent your trees from becoming a danger to you, your loved ones, and your property. This post highlights some of the pests and diseases you may encounter in Bay City and how to manage them. Read on.
4 Bay City Tree Pests And Diseases You Should Be On The Lookout For
1. Oak Wilt
Oak wilt is one of the deadliest tree fungus in Texas, affecting all species of oak. It is transmitted by sap-feeding beetles or by root grafts from infected trees. While pin, red, and black oaks have been found to be highly susceptible, some varieties like the swamp, bur, and white oaks have shown some degree of tolerance to the disease. However, irrespective of the level of resistance, if treatment is not administered soon enough, all oaks eventually succumb to the infection.
When it attacks, the leaves of the infected tree turn yellow-bronzy and begin to fall off the branches. Eventually, there will be no foliage left on the tree. Contact a tree service Bay City expert if you spot oak wilt symptoms. Also, avoid trimming oaks between early May and late September, which is their active growing months, to avoid attracting the sap-feeding beetles.
2. Emerald Ash Borer
The bright green beetle has been wreaking havoc on ash trees in Bay City for decades. Ash trees are some of the most popular shade trees in Texas and also an important timber, meaning, damage from this insect could cost billions of dollars.
Perhaps one of the reasons the Emerald Ash Borer is so deadly is that it is difficult to detect until the symptoms are severe. The affected tree will exhibit thinning of leaves, cracking of the bark, D-shaped holes under the bark, and larger holes on the bark from woodpeckers extracting the borers.
Have a tree service Texas professional examine your ash trees if you suspect they are infected. They will apply insecticides to prevent the spread of the borers. If this is done early, your trees could still be saved. But if the damage done is beyond repair, the most effective way to prevent the spread of the insects would be to cut down the infected trees.
Related Post: Texas Tree Bugs
3. Anthracnose
Anthracnose is one of the most common Bay City tree diseases and among the deadliest across Texas. It is caused by a fungus that attacks the flowers, fruits, leaves, and twigs of the tree. Although it can target any tree species, the most susceptible species are the sycamore and flowering dogwood.
The symptoms vary from species to species, but at the bare minimum, the tree will exhibit premature defoliation and branch dieback. As the disease becomes more severe, the tree will eventually die. Injecting the trunks with a systematic fungicide can help manage the disease. Make sure to practice good sanitation too; it will help prevent the spread of the fungus. If symptoms persist, seek tree expert’s help.
4. Dutch Elm Disease
If you have elms in your garden, you have to always be on the lookout for the Dutch elm disease. It is a common tree disease in Texas that has killed millions of elm trees in this state and across the US. The disease is spread by bark beetles as they feed on leaves and branches of the trees. These beetles transport the fungus from the infected elms to the healthy ones, infecting the healthy trees. The Dutch elm disease can also be spread through root grafts.
You will mostly detect the disease at the beginning of summer when the foliage on the upper part of the tree starts to turn yellow and curl. This will then be followed by browning and wilting. The symptoms spread to the nearby branches and ultimately to the entire tree.
Like most Bay City tree diseases, the Dutch elm disease has no cure. However, you can prolong the life of the tree by treating with fungicides. Untreated trees will die within 2 to 3 years of being infected.
The Local Tree Experts Overview
Understanding and identifying the most common Bay City tree pests and diseases will help you administer treatment quickly and prolong the life of your trees. But prevention is better than cure and it would be best to prevent the pathogens from attacking your trees in the first place, by keeping the trees healthy and avoiding situations that put them at risk of pests and diseases.
