Tree Diseases
Profiling Tree Diseases – The Devastating Dutch Elm Disease
If you are interested in tree care and tree preservation, and live in the Eastern part of the United States, you may have heard of the effects of Dutch elm disease. Dutch elm disease is a wilt fungus that grows in the sapwood of elm trees. This fungal infection is devastating to trees, most specifically any species of elm tree. This tree disease started its spread in Ohio in the early 1900s and has since spread to the Eastern coast and as far south as Texas and Florida.
What you may not know is that Dutch elm disease does not only affect Dutch elms, as the name suggests, but all species of elm trees.
If you have elm trees on your property, such as white elms or “Florida elms”, keep a close eye on any signs that your trees have contracted Dutch elm disease. The aggressive disease quickly infects trees and spreads to other elms in the area, leaving behind a path of lifeless trees and requiring removal of the tree. If you do spot signs of this vicious disease, contact a professional arborist as soon as possible to stop the disease from killing your trees.
How to Spot Dutch Elm Disease
The disease is usually spread by beetles which feed on the trees and infect them with fungal bacteria. As they feed, they harbor tiny fungal spores that are transferred from one tree to the next as the beetles feed off the bark. These beetles are hard to spot because they tunnel under the bark and feed on the tree’s inner sapwood. A good way to spot Dutch elm disease is in the health of the leaves. Leaves of infected trees will unexpectedly wilt in the summer. They usually show signs of yellowing and curling; then they turn brown and fall prematurely.
However, you can combat this disease by staying alert to any possible outbreaks. Stay in tune with the news and research local nurseries. If the disease is prevalent in your area, local news media will inform you of signs of destruction as well as tips for treatment. Newspapers may also run stories about Dutch elm disease if an infestation has occurred in your area. Most nurseries are a great source for professional information about the disease.
Controlling Dutch Elm Disease
Dutch elm disease can be controlled by spraying if spraying is done at the very first sign of infection. Contact a professional arborist to survey the speculative trees to determine if tree spraying is necessary or effective.
Regularly prune tree branches and remove dead or decayed branches. These unhealthy limbs are likely to harbor Dutch elm disease. Be mindful of when to prune – pruning in warm weather can leave trees susceptible to disease if the trees are not able to heal correctly. In some cases removing limbs or pruning away infected branches can stall or halt the spread of the disease. Have an experienced tree service make this decision, as they have years of expertise. Otherwise, the entire tree will need to be removed and disposed of to ensure the disease does not spread to other trees in the area.
Planting trees other than elms can also stop or slow the spread of the disease. Though the American elm tree is a stately tree with desirable crown growth, you may want to consider planting other types of trees than elms if Dutch elm disease is a problem in your area.
As a great alternative to the elm tree, there are several species of oak trees that have some of the same benefits. Their majestic heights, broad leaves and sturdy hardwood are in abundance throughout the United States. Best of all, they aren’t as susceptible to diseases as the elm.