Yes, your tree can get sick. What’s more, these diseases don’t just impact your tree’s appearance but also its longevity.
Thankfully, you can save your tree by diagnosing tree diseases early. However, you’ll first need to learn how to spot the most common tree diseases we get in Boulder, CO.
Common Tree Diseases and How To Spot Them
While Boulder, CO, does have a vibrant landscape, there is one major problem. The same climate and soil conditions that result in beautiful trees on your property also make certain tree diseases more prevalent. Here’s a list of some of those diseases.
Fire Blight
This is a bacterial disease that affects apple, crabapple, quince, and pear trees. The disease attacks a tree’s branches, causing them to die. In extreme cases, the disease could kill the entire tree.
Fire blight symptoms include:
- Discolored bark
- Dried fruits
- Light brown or blackened leaves
- Dead branches
- Black “shepherd’s crook” twigs
- Water-soaked blossoms
Fungal Infections
Certain fungal infections can be lethal to local and often present clear visual signs. Cytospora canker, for example, is the result of an infection that impacts species like ash, elm, and willow trees. It’s a good idea to perform an occasional visual check for abnormal growths on your tree’s trunk.
Dutch Elm Disease
Dutch elm disease is one of the most common tree diseases in Boulder, CO. The culprits behind the spread of this disease are bark beetles, which are active during the warmer months of the year, usually from spring to fall.
Once they invade your tree, they can cause branch dieback, yellowing leaves, and, ultimately, tree death.
Pine Wilt
Pine wilt is another significant threat in Boulder, CO. This disease is the result of an infection of microscopic worms known as nematodes, which are spread by pine sawyer beetles and kill trees from within by blocking the flow of water.
What To Do After Spotting Symptoms of Common Tree Diseases
While your plan of action will vary depending on the disease, the first step should always be to schedule professional tree services in Boulder, CO, early.
Doing so will allow certified arborists to evaluate your tree to help you with identifying tree health problems. They will then come up with helpful treatment options, which could include:
- Pruning: They could remove infected or dead tree branches to ensure the bacteria or fungi don’t spread.
- Fungicide applications: Applying fungicide to your tree’s affected areas can reduce the infection’s spread.
- Tree injections: These are systemic treatments that deliver insecticides or fungicides directly to your tree’s vascular system. They are especially helpful when treating emerald ash borer.
- Fertilization: Maintaining your tree’s health with fertilizers helps strengthen its natural defenses.
Give Your Trees the Help They Need
Are you worried about Boulder’s common tree diseases? Let Arbotec Tree Service give you the professional help you need.
From sharing the signs of tree disease to look for to telling you what steps to take after tree death, we’re your one-stop shop for all the tree information you need. Call us at (303) 466-3175 to make an appointment.