Tree fungus is a problem you’ll often encounter when it comes to caring for your trees. It’s true that not all trees are vulnerable to all fungal diseases, and not every tree fungus is deadly, but this doesn’t mean you should ignore an infected tree.
As a leading provider of tree service in Ormond Beach, we take a deeper look into tree fungus so you can know how to tackle the disease when it hits home.
What Causes Fungal Growth on Trees?
It pays to keep your trees healthy because damaged or unhealthy trees are the most susceptible to fungal growth. A tree is like a human body. When it’s healthy, it can easily fight off various disease-causing organisms. If your tree has stress from pests, drought, poor soil, or other detrimental factors, it’ll have a hard time resisting infection. In addition, an opening on your tree’s roots or bark can act as a conduit for fungus to access the inner part of the tree.
Here are some of the factors that promote fungus growth:
- Drought
- Storm damage
- Overcrowding
- Damage to roots, trunks, or branches
- Improper tree pruning or trimming
Common Types of Tree Fungus
Acquainting yourself with various tree fungi is critical to tackling these tree diseases. Here are some of the common fungus that can hamper your tree’s healthy growth:
- Root Rot: This a serious tree problem that results from overwatering, suffocating the roots and leading to tree death.
- Dutch Elm Disease: This disease, spread by elm-bark beetles, weakens the tree’s vascular system, resulting in poor circulation of water and nutrients.
- Yellow Tree Fungus: This yellowish-to-orangish fungus grows up and down the tree’s trunk and often causes internal rot.
- Oak Wilt: Sap beetles spread this deadly fungus, which can affect any oak.
- Anthracnose: This fungus causes blotches on leaves and often infects hardwood trees like walnuts, maples, dogwoods, and sycamores.
- Sooty mold: This fungus feeds on honeydew, covering the stems and leaves in a black sticky substance.
How To Treat Tree Fungus
You should first understand how to identify tree fungus to tackle it effectively. While it’s best to work with a qualified professional to determine if your tree is sick, here are common signs that things aren’t looking good:
- Missing bark
- Leaf discoloration
- Wilting or fallen leaves
- Visible fungal growth
- Dying branches
- Soggy areas around the tree roots
- Wood particles around the trunk
After confirming the presence of tree fungus, your arborist may recommend trimming the infected parts or using a natural or copper-based fungicide on unremovable parts of the tree. After chopping off the infected part or treating it with a fungicide, it pays to boost the tree’s overall health. You can do this with adequate watering, fertilization, and pest control.
Contact Your Local Tree Experts for Assistance
If you need help with tree fungus in Ormond Beach, Dead or Alive Tree Service is your go-to local arborist. Contact us at (386) 333-2252 for a free estimate or to learn about black spots on tree leaves.