Check In With Your Trees This Spring
As the new leaves are emerging this spring, it’s a good time to check in with your trees to check for any signs of stress or disease. Some signs of stress to look out for include: Large areas of the canopy that didn’t leaf out or have dead branches.
Leaves that seem small, shriveled, or damaged and do not expand properly.
Wounds, large areas of loose bark, or signs of insect or fungal damage around the base and on the trunk.
If you see some small signs of stress, that’s okay. Trees are resilient and can bounce back from many stresses over time. Often times, you can help reduce tree stress by mulching properly, watering during droughty periods, and avoiding compacting or moving soil around the roots. However, in cases where many stresses have built up over time, when a large part of the tree is damaged, or if you’re concerned the tree may be a hazard to people, structures, or utilities, it’s time to contact a certified arborist. Learn how to find a certified arborist in your area.
Help DEC! Be On The Lookout For These Tree Pathogens
Oak wilt
The insects that spread the oak wilt fungus are on the move! DO NOT prune oak trees in the spring. Sap drinking beetles called nitidulids can “smell” a wounded oak tree within 10 minutes and if they are carrying the oak wilt fungus, the tree will become infected and can die within months. The fungus can then spread to nearby oak wilt trees by root grafting. If an oak is wounded during the spring or summer, a quick coat of latex paint will prevent the spores from infecting the tree. Wounds are only vulnerable for 72 hours, so damage that occurred over the winter does not need to be painted.
If your oak trees are turning brown, or losing leaves in the spring and summer, please send a description of the symptoms and pictures of the whole tree and leaves to foresthealth@dec.ny.gov. Given recent oak wilt detections in Ontario, we are particularly interested in reports of symptomatic oaks from along the Niagara River/Western NY, as well as known oak wilt areas such as around Canandaigua Lake and the Town of Glenville.
Beech leaf disease
Beech leaf disease (BLD) looks like striping on beech leaves that can best be seen when the leaves are held to the light. Symptoms are able to be seen from first leaf out. Beech leaf disease has spread rapidly through New York since 2018, but we are still seeking reports in northeastern counties without known detections. If you see BLD in any of those counties, please send a description of the symptoms and pictures of the leaves and whole tree to foresthealth@dec.ny.gov.
Learn More About BLD
White pine needle disease
White pine needle disease (WPND) is a disease complex that causes white pine needles to turn brown and fall off in the spring and summer. Brown pine needles are normal in the fall, but if you’re seeing brown needles this spring, please send a description of the symptoms and pictures of the whole tree and needles to foresthealth@dec.ny.gov.
Learn More About WPND
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