Owning a backyard filled with beautiful trees, flowers, and shrubs can be a joy and bring life to your outdoor space. But, like any living thing, trees may fall victim to disease and pests that threaten their health and beauty. If you really love your trees, knowing your trees are suffering from certain diseases and not knowing what to do about them will certainly make you feel lost and unsure. Tree cutting Toronto with their professionals can help get rid of the diseases.
Read on as we’ll shed some light on some common tree diseases; what they look like, and more importantly, how to naturally treat them. Whether you’re new to caring for backyard trees or have years of experience, by the time you finish reading this post, there’ll be no need to worry when it comes to protecting your evergreen friends from harm. So grab that cup of coffee and get ready — let’s dive into our tree diseases 101.
Leaf Rust
Becoming one of the most common tree diseases, leaf rust is caused by a fungus that infects the leaves of many different species of trees. This disease often appears in late summer with yellowish-orange spots on leaves. As these spots continue to grow, they eventually become powdery and orange in color. Though this is common, don’t let this disease grows on your trees.
To naturally treat leaf rust, start by trimming away any infected leaves and branches. This will reduce the spread of the disease to other parts of your tree. You can also use a solution made from baking soda and water when spraying the rust-affected area on your tree. Finally, make sure you keep an eye out for any new signs of leaf rust to take preventative measures early on.
Witches’ Broom
Witches’ broom is another common tree disease caused by a fungus that affects the growth of trees. When this happens, you’ll notice a bunch of tightly clustered branches forming on your tree and usually accompanied by yellowing leaves. A simple way to treat this disease is by cutting away the affected area and spraying it with a copper fungicide. This helps kill any remaining fungus and also prevents further infection from happening.
Fire Blight
Commonly found in apple, pear, and cherry trees, fire blight is caused by a bacteria that affects the leaves, twigs, and branches of trees. At first glance, you may be able to tell something is wrong with your tree because it appears as if it’s been scorched by the fire with blackened edges on the leaves. But don’t worry. The best remedy for this issue is to use a copper fungicide to spray the entire tree, and this should help prevent infections from spreading.
Canker
Last but not least, if you see a sunken, dead area on the trunk of your tree, you might be looking at a canker. Cankers are caused by fungi and bacteria that cause the bark to deteriorate and die off. This disease usually will not spread throughout the tree, but if left untreated, it can cause significant damage. In fact, it may even kill the tree if it is not taken care of.
Apart from trimming away any affected parts of the tree, you can also use a horticultural oil to disinfect any infected areas. This will help get rid of the fungus and bacteria causing the canker, while also protecting your tree from any further damage. You can also try painting the affected area with tar or a sealant to help prevent any future infections.
There are still a lot of diseases that can affect trees, but the ones mentioned above are some of the most common. Knowing how to identify and treat them is key to preserving your tree’s health and beauty. So, take preventive measures as soon as you spot any signs of distress in your beloved trees. Every tree has a different way of reacting to disease, so ensure you are always aware of the signs and symptoms to ensure your tree’s overall health.