Fire blight is caused by the bacteria Erwinia amylovora, over 130 members of the Rosaceae family are susceptible, including; apple and crabapple, cotoneaster, firethorn, hawthorn, mountain ash, and pear. Infected leaves, stems, twigs and fruits will turn brown to black. Fire blight will blacken the smooth-barked, green branches and affected twigs develop a “shepherd’s crook.” Needle,…
Seeing an explosion of leaf spot and related fungal issues in the lawn. Yellowish patches can be seen throughout the lawn and the actual leaf blade can have a yellow or black infection spot on it.This infection can be controlled with appropriately-timed fungal treatments. Proper watering and increased cutting height can also help maintain the…
This is Misha Oso Selivan the newest partner in SavATree’s fight against Ambrosia Beetle. Misha has been in training for 6 months to seek and signal on Ambrosia infestations. She has gotten much better on targeting . On 12 properties walked she has had 9 true hits. She has joined me ,other alliances and the…
This interesting creature is the spore bearing structure produced by the cedar-apple rust fungus on junipers. In the spring these galls swell up when it rains and release spores which are carried by wind and rain to the developing leaves of apples and crabapples. The spores germinate and infect the apple and crabapple leaves causing…
You may have noticed your Eastern White Pines showing yellowing, browning, and loss of needles. While these symptoms may have become more noticeable in your area this spring, white pine needle damage (WPND) has been observed in the northern U.S. and eastern Canada – with increasing frequency and severity — over the past few years.…
Make no mistake: It’s springtime, and the ticks are out to get us. Though the adult blacklegged tick — what most of us refer to as the “deer” tick — are active throughout the fall and winter, the warmer temperatures send these critters out from their cold -weather shelters of leaf and woodpiles in search…
Imagine trying to take a drink of water, but instead of a nice, refreshing gulp, you can’t swallow what’s right in front of you; something has blocked your throat. That might be how an American elm feels when it has Dutch Elm Disease. Dutch Elm Disease, or DED, is a fungal pathogen that clogs the…
Every year around this time all of the various cultivars of flowering cherries in the landscape look their best and people are happy to talk about how beautiful spring is. Unfortunately, there are many problems that are common with Cherry Trees. The assortment of problems includes Insects, pest and diseases. Flowering cherry trees with severe…
Similar to insect infestation, fungal diseases on trees can be difficult to identify. In fact, what might look like a fungus might be something else entirely! For example, magnolia scale, which looks like a fungus because of its scaly substance, is a white insect larvae that can severely damage magnolia trees if it is…
If a tree is suffering from a disease or insect infestation, sometimes it’s obvious, but other times, you have to know what to look for. A common myth is that there aren’t any visible signs of insects, so the tree isn’t in harm’s way of insect infestation. Some harmful insects, such as the Bronze Birch…
