Trees offer valuable benefits. They may create a pleasant, shaded area, block severe winter winds, offer privacy from nosy neighbours, and provide spectacular design features to improve and boost the value of your home. It’s hardly surprising that people adore trees.

However, trees, like all living things, are vulnerable to illness. Some tree diseases are undesirable, while others can limit productivity or kill the tree. When disease protections are compromised, the disease can obtain a stronghold in the tree, resulting in infection and, in some cases, tree deaths.

Factors Contribute to Tree Stress

A tree can get stressed due to a variety of environmental reasons. 

  • Improper Installation: One of the primary causes of tree death is improperly planted them. Choosing the wrong tree for the soil conditions and placing it incorrectly might be significant factors. 
  • Improper Mulching: Mulching may appear challenging, but doing it incorrectly around your trees might result in serious tree stress symptoms you will notice later. 
  • Inadequate Watering: Giving a tree too little or too much water can result in various tree stress signs, such as yellowing and losing leaves, as well as dieback and mortality.
  • Lawn-Related Injuries: Grass should not be planted all the way up to the trunk. This can result in mower damage, compacted soil, and decaying string trimmer cuts in the bark. 
  • Improper Tree Pruning: Pruning a tree at the incorrect time or with an improper method exposes it to potential diseases and pests. Most trees benefit from dormant season trimming, but appropriate procedures for each species should be discussed with an arborist in Bradford or near you.
  • Renovations or New Construction: Not adequately safeguarding trees during home renovation projects may result in stress symptoms such as branch dieback and eventual loss. Heavy machinery should be kept from the soil surrounding your trees and branches.
  • Neglecting Maintenance Services: Your trees may develop without much support for years before exhibiting tree stress signs. However, certain types require extra care due to unique pests.

Common Canada Tree Diseases

Tree diseases cause concerns for your greenery

The following are some of the most prevalent tree diseases in Canada:

Ash Anthracnose 

Ash anthracnose is a fungus-caused disease of ash trees.

  • Young leaves and branches develop water-soaked patches.
  • Brown and black stains appear on the margins of leaves and spread inwards.
  • The lower canopy is frequently affected first, and the infection spreads upward.

Beech Bark Disease  

Beech bark disease is a severe beech tree disease caused by a beech bark scale, an insect, and a fungus. The scale weakens the tree by creating wounds, and the fungus enters these wounds, spreads, and kills the tree.

  • A white fuzzy wax appearance.
  • The tree will be covered with wax.
  • A discolouration of white wax.
  • A brown slime will exude out from the tree.
  • Leaves won’t grow to their full size.
  • Leaves will turn yellow and brown.

Black Knot 

Black knot is a disease that produces swelling and discoloration of twigs and branches, culminating in girdling and dieback of branches and, in some cases, the trunk.

  • Knots appear as light brown, warty swellings around 1cm long on fresh shoots.
  • The knots become coal black and might surround the entire limb.
  • Boring insects may be observed on the knots.

Cankers 

Several varieties of cankers afflict a wide variety of trees. Bacterial or fungal infections can cause them. They can encircle the tree or make it susceptible to other diseases or pests.

  • They can be found on branches, stems, or trunks.
  • They resemble dark lesions that may leak and discolour the bark.
  • Flat bark patches with fractured borders are possible.
  • The leaves of deciduous trees may wilt.
  • The needles of conifers may darken and fall off, and resin may flow out and turn white.

Dutch Elm Disease 

The most damaging disease of elm trees is Dutch elm disease. The fungus that causes this sickness is carried by beetles.

  • Wilting, curling, and yellowing leaves are signs. 
  • There will eventually be no leaves remaining.

Fire Blight 

Fire blight is a devastating disease that damages many trees and plants.

  • The leaves darken, wilt, and curl into a candy cane form.
  • Ooze droplets can develop on twigs.
  • Dark lesions, called cankers, can occur.
  • Fruit can get deformed.
  • The tree may seem to be burnt.

Ways in Preventing Tree Diseases

Shielding Your Trees Beating Tree Diseases!

  • Adequate Tree Watering

Watering trees is critical to their life. Deep and thorough watering is critical for trees recuperating from last season’s heat waves and drought conditions. Water them in the morning or evening, and deliver constant water to the drip line.

  • Mulching

Mulching helps prevent surface evaporation, soil erosion and maintains its temperature, and dramatically eliminates weeds in your garden. A well-placed mulch ring conserves moisture and cools the soil, promoting root development.

  • Tree Pruning

Pruning trees promotes development and structure. Maintaining the tree’s structure reduces the chance of damaged limbs and falling branches. A correctly trimmed tree will not have weakened branch systems or uneven weight distribution, which can lead to disaster later in the tree’s life.

  • Avoiding Mechanical Damage

It’s critical to pay close attention when undertaking yard maintenance or construction to prevent damaging your trees. The bark of a tree acts as a natural barrier to preserve its tissue and circulatory system. Damage to the bark leaves the tree vulnerable, while exposed wounds allow fungal tree diseases to get in or spread.

  • Cleaning Up

Keeping your yard clean not only enhances its beauty but also aids in preventing tree disease. If you have determined that a tree on your property is infected, clearing up and eliminating falling leaves and debris is critical to reducing the danger of the disease spreading to other plants.

  • Spray Fungicide

Another easy preventative strategy is to spray fungicide on your trees to prevent the spread of any fungus. This technique can halt tree disease development before spreading to neighbouring trees. Along with fungicide spray procedures, spraying affected trees with an insecticide will eliminate living insects and their eggs or larvae, preventing tree disease from spreading. 

Dave Lund Tree Service is just what you need if you need professional tree service in Bradford or surrounding areas to keep your trees in good shape. Our team is highly skilled, licensed, insured, and certified to conduct all tree-related operations, from tree trimming and pruning to stump grinding and removal. To learn more about our tree services, please contact us at (905) 884-0511 today.