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5 Diseases to Look Out For This Summer

Resources: Seasonal Tree Care, Tree Problems

Many tree and shrub diseases thrive during the summer months. As hot, humid weather and evening thunderstorms create favorable conditions, these diseases can do a lot of damage to your landscape. Learn what diseases pose a danger to your trees and shrubs and what signs you should keep an eye out for on your property.

1. Phytophthora Root Rot

Phytophthora Root Rot is an extremely damaging and widespread fungal disease that will rot away root systems and eventually kill your tree if left untreated. In the worst cases, when left untreated trees can become structurally unsafe and uproot or snap possibly causing property damage and injury. The recent thunderstorms and hot, humid weather we have been experiencing have caused our soil to become warm and moist, conditions favored by Phytophthora Root Rot. The disease is also common in areas where run-off or rainwater collects around the roots of plants.

Symptoms:

  • Suppressed growth
  • yellow or undersized needles/leaves
  • dieback
  • drooping and curling of leaves
  • leaves turning brown
Phytophthora Root Rot

Targets: Wide range of plants. The most susceptible include Azalea, rhododendron, dogwood, pieris,  yew bushes, deodar cedar, mountain laurel, heather, juniper, Fraser fir, white pine, shortleaf pine, camellia japonica, aucuba.

Learn more about Phytophthora Root Rot

2. Leaf Spot & Anthracnose

Leaf spot is a common term used to describe a number of tree diseases that leave spots on the foliage of trees and shrubs. These diseases are most commonly caused by fungi but can be caused by bacterial infections as well. One of the most well-known leaf spot diseases in our area is Anthracnose.

Symptoms:

  • spots on foliage
  • spots can be brownish, tan, or black
  • concentric rings and dark margins
  • black dots in the spots, either in rings or in a central cluster.
  • spots may combine to form blotches
signs your tree is sick - leaf spot

Targets: Dogwoods, Ash, Oaks Sycamores, Maples, and other deciduous hardwoods.

Learn More About Anthracnose
Learn More About Cercospora Leaf Spot

3. Shot Hole Disease

Shot hole disease, also known as shot hole fungus, is a serious fungal disease that creates distinct BB-sized holes in leaves. With the warm weather and evening thunderstorms, we’ve been having the past couple weeks. Our Arborists expect to see Shot Hole Fungus popping up on lots of Cherry Laurels in this area in the next few weeks. Without treatment, this fungus will re-infect your shrubs year after year, not only ruining its aesthetic appeal but also weakening the shrub’s health.

Symptoms:

  • Reddish-brown spots on leaves
  • Holes in leaves (can look like insect feeding damage)
  • Defoliation
Shot Hole Fungus

Targets: Cherry laurel, English Laurel, Cherry Trees

Learn more about Shot Hole Disease

4. Verticillium Wilt

Verticillium Wilt is a disease caused by the soil-borne fungi Verticillium albo-atrum and Verticillium dahliae. The fungus invades through the roots of susceptible trees and shrubs then spreads through the plant’s vascular system. Once the Xylem, the tree’s water transportation system,  is infected it becomes clogged and water can no longer reach the tree’s leaves. Verticillium is common and affects several hundred species of trees and shrubs.

Symptoms:

  • leaf curling
  • dry leaves
  • small yellow foliage
  • leaf scorch
  • slow growth
  • Often the symptoms are seen on one side or section of the tree
Tree Fungus - Verticillium Wilt

Targets: Ash, Azalea, Cherry, Certain species of Dogwood or Linden, Locust, Magnolia, Maple, Oak, and Redbud.

Learn More About Verticillium Wilt

5. Bacterial Leaf Scorch

Discovered in New Jersey in the early 1990’s, this disease attacks shade trees and is caused by the xylem-clogging bacteria, Xylella fastidiosa.  Xylem is one of the two types of transport tissues in trees; by clogging these tissues the bacteria restricts the flow of water from the roots to the crown of the tree. This dehydration causes the tree to appear to be under drought stress even when it has access to enough water.

Diseased plants start to exhibit symptoms of infection in mid-summer. If left untreated this disease will cause dieback, secondary invaders, branch death, and ultimately death.

Symptoms:

  • Marginal Leaf Scorch: Necrosis begins along the leaf margin and spreads toward the veins in an irregular pattern.
  • Green healthy tissue separated from the dead tissue by a yellow or reddish-brown band or halo.
  • Decline in vigor
  • Branch dieback
  • Defoliation
Bacterial Leaf Scorch

Targets: Oaks, Elms, Sycamore, Sweet Gum

Learn More About Bacterial Leaf Scorch

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Google Reviews

Grey Burkhart
Grey Burkhart
March 29, 2022.
Verified
Very professional review of our requirements and an accurate estimate. Showed up on time and were finished quickly. Cleaned up all of the debris and sawdust. Great job all around.
Dennis Bruns
Dennis Bruns
March 8, 2022.
Verified
We have used RTEC Treecare for several years. They do excellent work. Their staff is extremely knowledgeable and take great care in explaining the various options available for your particular situation. I highly recommend them.
Annette Iannucci
Annette Iannucci
February 23, 2022.
Verified
We have been using RTEC for years and were very pleased with the recent tree maintenance work they did for us. As always, we got good advice from their arborist Ben,. The crew that did the work is highly skilled, and they did a great job trimming our trees. They worked safely and efficiently, in addition to leaving the yard clean after they finished the work.
Susan Crawford
Susan Crawford
January 26, 2022.
Verified
RTEC was at my house today to removed a large Magnolia that was badly damaged by the recent snow. They did a fantastic job at a very reasonable price. They arrived right on time, worked efficiently and quickly and cleaned up so well it was hard to tell anything have been disturbed. Over the past several years, I have used RTEC for all the services I checked above, and have always been very pleased with their service and professionalism. I also appreciate that they are not eager to take down trees that don't need to come down. In this case, the damage was too extensive for the tree to recover.
Kenton Morgan
Kenton Morgan
January 20, 2022.
Verified
Once again, RTEC has done a great job. The team showed up right on time and performed all the work that we agreed to. They kept us informed as to progress, coordinated with us concerning our maple, and made recommendations concerning ongoing support for our trees. At the end of the day, they thoroughly cleaned up the debris and left our yard in pristine condition. WELL DONE.
Jean Kluttz
Jean Kluttz
January 3, 2022.
Verified
Not our first time but this time was tricky removal of a large dead tree leaning on a healthy tree. Quick response for estimate, good timing to removal, all clear and healthy tree still fine.
Jerry Haggin
Jerry Haggin
December 16, 2021.
Verified
Very good work while ensuring that I was aware of status of my work order and planned completion.
Mike Iger
Mike Iger
December 16, 2021.
Verified
David Roberts
David Roberts
December 15, 2021.
Verified
We’ve used RTEC for many years for tree maintenance and can’t say enough good things about their service. We use them for tree trimming and for regular treatments to maintain our trees’ health and deal with pests and prevent disease. Their arborist Ben has been especially helpful with advice. RTEC also been especially helpful in emergency situations, once coming to cable a massive, heritage oak in our yard right before a hurricane was about to hit. Highly recommend.
Travis Larson
Travis Larson
December 10, 2021.
Verified
RTEC did an excellent job onsite of removing dead branches from our 80+ year old trees, and trimming other growth too close to our home.
Google rating score: 4.8 of 5, based on 185 reviews.

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