Chlorosis is a serious condition that can inhibit the production of chlorophyll.  Chlorophyll is the green pigment that makes leaves green.  A tree's leaves must produce chlorophyll in order for the tree to survive.

 Chlorosis is easy to visualize, therefore it is easy to diagnose.   The leaves appear to be lighter in color.  The leaves' color can be from light green to, in more severe cases, yellow.

A chlorotic condition is most often due to a mineral deficiency.  (Oaks - iron, Maples - manganese).  Sometimes the minerals essential to a tree's health are not available in the soil or they are in a form that will not break down so the tree's roots can take them up to the leaves.

It is absolutely essential that the minerals be available for the tree and it is absolutely essential that the tree's root system be in good health.  For a healthy root system the leaves must be in good health so they are able to manufacture food.  For healthy leaves the roots must be in good health so they are able to absorb the essential minerals.  Without two healthy systems the tree suffers.

If you feel your trees are exhibiting symptoms of chlorosis, please call us.  We have several treatment plans available for the health of your trees.

Quercus

Prompt diagnosis is necessary!

Isolate diseased trees from healthy trees!

Treat healthy oak trees with fungicide injections!

Oak wilt is a lethal disease caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fagacaerum.  The fungus inhabits the water conducting vessels of the tree, and all species of oaks are susceptible in varying degrees.  The fungus disrupts water movement to the crown and the leaves eventually wilt and fall to the ground.  Red and pin oaks typically die within 4 to 6 weeks of infection, while white and bur oaks have more resistance and may survive if only a small percentage of the tree is diagnosed with the disease and treatment is started immediately.

Most of the spread of oak wilt is through root grafts between adjacent trees and by sap feeding beetles (Nitidulidae) or bark beetles (Scolytidae) carrying fungal spores from tree to tree.

Symptoms of Oak Wilt

The primary symptom of oak wilt is the wilting of leaves and defoliation.  Browning begins on the margin of the leaf and moves inward, and there is a distinct line between dead tissue and living tissue.  Leaves normally fall before they have completely browned.  In red and pin oaks, wilting progresses from the top of the canopy downward, while in white and bur oaks the wilting may occur on branches scattered throughout the tree.

Streaking of the sapwood beneath the bark is a sign of the defense response of the tree and provides further evidence of oak wilt.  An additional sign of the disease is the presence of fungal spore mats on red and pin oaks.  They split the bark open and attract insects with their fruity odor.

      If you are worried about your oak trees, please contact us.  The Arborists will diagnosis your oak trees and recommend a treatment plan.  Oak wilt can be treated if diagnosed early enough in white oaks and must be treated in red oaks before the disease is diagnosed.

Also, remember .... never prune your oak trees in the summer.  We at the Gardens, never prune oaks (unless an absolute emergency) until the temperature is a consistent 38 degrees or below.  

Platanus

Sycamore anthracnose is a destructive fungal disease that disfigures and defoliates sycamores.  Besides being unsightly, the disease can increase a tree's susceptibility to additional destructive agents.

Symptoms of Anthracnose

Shoot blight and bud blight - Occurs in the spring when the fungus grows from the canker inside the twig into newly emerging shoots.  The fungus causes cankers on 1 to 2 year old twigs.  This disruption of the vascular tissue causes twig and bud death.  It can also cause witch's-brooms, where many shoots originate from one point.

Leaf blight - Caused when spores from twig cankers infect leaves in spring and early summer.

If you have sycamore trees on your property and recognize some of these symptoms, telephone Victorian Gardens and a Certified Arborist will come and diagnose your trees. 

Sycamore Anthracnose can be controlled with treatment.  Our Certified Arborists will recommend a treatment plan for your trees.

We have been treating several cases of this disease.  The trees infected, we have found, in some cases, can be treated successfully.  If they do not respond to treatment they must be removed and the stumps ground.  The remaining trees that do not show symptoms may be treated to prevent the spread of Pine Wilt.  Call us for your appointment for us to inspect your pine trees.

We have found this disease in Austrian, Scotts and white pine. These cases have been documented with the Michigan State University Extension services.

We are the first to find and correctly diagnose Pine Wilt in Lapeer County and among the first to find and diagnose it in Oakland County.

Pinus

Pine wilt is a vascular disease that attacks Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Austrian pine (Pinus nigra), jack pine (Pinus banksiana), mugo pine (Pinus mugo), red (Pinus resinosa) and white pine (Pinus strobus).  Pine wilt typically prefers Scots pine, but will attack the aforementioned pines also.

Symptoms

Pine wilt can kill a pine within a few weeks to a few months.  The needles turn grayish green, then yellow to brown.  The needles will remain attached to the tree.  The early stages of the disease are very subtle and may vary.  The pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) feeds on the blue-stain fungus and the living plant cells surrounding the resin canals or water-conducting passages of pines, which leads to the pine sawyer beetle or wood wasp(Monochamus spp.).   The pine sawyer beetle carries the nematode from tree to tree.  These two are a vicious circle of vectors.

If your pine trees start showing signs of this disease, telephone Victorian Gardens immediately and a Certified Arborist will diagnose your trees and recommend a treatment plant.

Acer

Two Types of Cankers

Two Common Cankers:  Eutypella canker (caused by a fungus) which is nicknamed "cobra head."  The fruiting bodies of this canker are black and appear on the surface of the canker.  The callus wood formed by the tree to try to wall off this canker are wavy and bulge at the opening. 

Nectria canker (caused by a fungus) which is nick named "target head".  The callus formed by this canker circles around and around and gives the appearance of a target.  The fruiting bodies of this canker are bright red or orange and appear around the margin of the canker.

Damage

The spores from each canker are found on dead bark and are spread by wind transportation.  Rain and wind during the spring is when peak production of spores happens.

Cankers disfigure branches and trunks.  Fungal cankers are long term, they can not be treated.

Cankers commonly infect maples at wound sites, broken branch stubs, and improper pruning wounds.  Sugar maples seem to be affected most, but they are not the only type of maple to be infected.

The cankers grow each year, although relatively slowly, weakening the wood.  Each year the fungus kills a portion of the wood's cambium and vascular system; resulting in more callus forming and the tree's inability to receive water and nutrients, which leads to a weakened tree and wood structure and eventually death of the tree.

Treatment

There is no cure for canker.  In all landscapes, maples must be placed in accurate sites, properly planted and maintained.  Cultural practices are the best practices.  Make sure that pruning is done correctly and trunk wounds are prevented.  A large circle of mulch will prohibit lawn mower, weed whip or basic mechanical injuries.  Make sure the mulch is only 2 to 4" thick and not touching the trunk of the tree.

If a maple on your property is infected with a canker, it may be the wisest decision to remove this tree to prevent further spread of the fungal spores to other maples.  Severely weakened trees pose a liability for your property, your residence and pedestrians.  Any tree with a trunk canker affecting more than 40% of a tree's circumference should be removed.

Email us at:  vicgartree@aol.com