Is your tree showing signs of disease? Don’t panic. Tree diseases are common and affect different species in different ways. Check out these six dos and don’ts for handling and preventing tree disease. We’ve also included several articles on tree disease within the “Tree Care” section of our blog.
Do give your trees room to breathe and grow.
When adding a tree to your property, provide it with plenty of room for circulation and growth. Also, avoid placing trees that are susceptible to disease and require a second host plant to complete the life cycle close to each other. This will lower the chance of a disease spreading throughout your property or region.
Don’t over mulch or fertilize without doing your research.
While mulching is a great way to keep your trees healthy and moisturized, don’t pile it close to the trunks or stems and no more than 3 inches deep. Doing so will make it easier for a disease to spread to the tree. Also, if you find out that your tree does have a disease, don’t go straight to the fertilizer. Be sure to run a soil test to confirm that your tree is nutrient-deficient or the spreading of fertilizer could be a waste.
Do prune and trim your trees.
Pruning your trees is one of the best ways to reduce the spreading of a disease. It also helps the circulation of the tree, giving it a fighting chance because of its superior health. That being said, don’t prune a tree too frequently, or you could put the tree’s health at risk. Contact a certified arborist if you’re not sure how often to prune.
Don’t remove the tree just because it is diseased.
While certain diseases, such as Dutch Elm Disease or Oak Wilt, can be difficult to treat or even fatal, discovering that a tree is diseased does not mean that you need to remove it. Some diseases can be prevented, managed and even cured if caught early on.
Do select trees that are bred to be resistant to diseases.
It’s true… some trees are bred to be resistant to diseases. These are called cultivars. For example, there are cultivars of American Elm that have a high tolerance to Dutch Elm Disease. If you are looking to add forestry to your property, find out what diseases are prevalent in your area and if there are any cultivars available that are resistant to those diseases.
Don’t assume that a tree has a disease.
While it can be fairly easy to spot a tree disease, it is recommended that you call a certified arborist to confirm before you take action on the tree. Ostvig has a team of certified arborists who are available to assist you. Contact us to learn more at info@ostvigtree.com.
