Leaf Us Alone! Tree Pests and Diseases to Watch for This Spring

No one wants to spend a bunch of time caring for and loving a tree, only to discover pests have compromised it. Boo, pests! Yay, solid tree care and minimizing disease!

In general, you can minimize diseases on plants by inspecting roots before planting nursery specimens, cutting off dead or diseased branches or foliage as soon as you notice them with properly disinfected pruning tools, and calling in experts to help you diagnose tree trouble.

It also helps, however, to know what to watch out for. Below are few of the most common problems.

Root Rot

Rot is usually the result of fungi that prey upon overwatered trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. If you think plants might be rotting, check for withered, brown or slimy roots. To avoid rot, plant trees in well-draining soil and pay close attention to watering instructions. If you notice a lot of standing water around trees or shrubs, you might consider moving the trees or working mulch or leaf litter into the soil for drainage.

Mildew

Whitish, fuzzy patches of mildew are usually the result of overwatering or allowing leaves to get wet. Keep water to the roots of the tree and away from the leaves, and remove diseased leaves when you find them.

Spots and Rusts

If your trees are displaying round brown spots or speckled patches, they could be suffering from spots or rusts. These are also generally caused by fungus, and can mean the death of the plant in series situations. The best response is simply removing affected leaves or, if damage is extensive, entire plants.

Insects

Holes, tears and boring in bark are all signs of insects. If you find these, you may need to call in experts to help you get rid of them.

Need to get a diseased tree out of there? Want an expert opinion on a pesky pest problem? Premier Tree Solutions is a growing tree service business based servicing the metro Atlanta area, and we would love to help you keep your trees and shrubs healthy and beautiful this spring … and all year round! Our experts specialists provide a range of services, including tree trimming and pruning, tree removal, stump grinding, storm and debris cleanup and more. Give us a call to find out more or make an appointment. Don’t hesitate to call us (404-252-6448) when you need help!