Much like a person, if a tree is to remain healthy as time goes by, it must have a health care program in place to protect it from the hardships of life in a constantly changing environment.

Insects

Diseases

Fertilization

Why seek Plant Health Care (PHC)?

Please scroll down the page for more information about Plant Health Care

__________________________________________

Insects

There is rarely anything more terrifying for a homeowner than experiencing an insect infestation on their trees and shrubs. Sometimes the insect colonies are obvious, and sometimes they are quite conspicuous. Insects may be seen on the foliage (leaves) or on the wood (bark). Discussed below are the two different types of insect damage and their characteristics.

The first type of insect damage is known as foliar feeding. The presence of foliar feeding insects may go unnoticed for quite some time. By the time the damage to the leaves is visible, treatment may be questionable. An arborist will not only be able to identify the pest, but also recommend suitable treatment if appropriate.

Types of foliar feeders:

Chewing – have chewing mouthparts and get nourishment from leaves.
Symptoms – “skeleton-like” appearance to leaves, desiccated (brown or burnt looking) leaves, and webbing.
Sucking - elongated mouthparts that penetrate deep into plant tissues.
Symptoms – spots on leaves, distorted leaves, deformed leaves, yellowing leaves, dead leaves, honeydew (clear, sticky substance) accumulation, and sooty mold accumulation (blackened appearance).
Gall Forming – stimulate gall formation (abnormal plant tissue growth). The gall itself does not harm the tree.
Symptoms – abnormally shaped growths on various parts of the leaf; sometimes seen on the branches and trunk as well. Galls will vary in size and shape.

The second type of insect damage is known as wood feeding. Weakened and stressed trees are particularly vulnerable to attack by wood feeding insects. Many times the larval stage of these insects is hidden beneath the bark. Wood feeding insects can interrupt the transport of water and essential nutrients needed by the tree.

Types of wood feeders:

Boring – tunnel and feed under the bark of living wood.
Symptoms – off-color leaves, wilting at ends of branches, dieback of tree crown, cankers on bark, calluses on bark, holes in bark, and cracked bark.
Girdling – tunnel and feed around the circumference of a branch.
Symptoms – a ring/scar around trunk or branches, girdled limbs break off and fall to the ground, and secondary branching.

Insects typically feed on damaged and stressed trees. Insect control along with consistent, sustainable pruning techniques and fertilization methods is your best bet for improving the vitality and longevity of your trees. The Plant Health Care division of Hendrickson Tree Care Company is dedicated to providing the best up-to-date pest control services available.

(Further information regarding insects is discussed in our “Diseases” section below for your reference.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Diseases

Just like human beings carry and transmit diseases, so do trees. It is always a heartbreaking occurrence when a tree succumbs to disease. Tree diseases can result from a number of factors including insects, parasites, fungi, and environmental stresses. This section will discuss a few of the most common diseases seen in the Kansas City area.

As humans, we recognize that we are sick when we get a headache, runny nose or sore throat. Likewise, trees will show out of the ordinary signs that they are sick. Many of the visible signs for disease may be the same signs for natural environmental changes or benign issues. An experienced arborist will be able to determine both the natural and detrimental issues of the tree. However, you will be around your trees most often, and therefore serve as your tree’s best witness for the early detection of problems.

If you think you might have a problem, it is a good idea to consult with a certified arborist. Many diseases are preventable and curable. Listed below are some of the more predominant tree diseases seen in our area.

Anthracnose - (Sycamore, Maple, Dogwood, Ash, Oak, Walnut) a less virulent disease, one of numerous types of fungi attacks a tree listed above, disfigures and defoliates it, making the tree quite unsightly.
Symptoms – (in spring) leaf blotching, twig dieback, twig cankers, and defoliation that rarely kills the tree.
Treatment – Prevention: plant resistant cultivars, maintain proper pruning techniques, and water appropriately. To prevent spreading, rake and remove all dead leaves in the fall. Manage with fungicide applications in the spring, and perhaps fertilization following leaf emergence.
Dutch Elm Disease – (mainly American Elm, rare in other types of Elm) this fungus entered the USA sometime in the 1920s and is a native pathogen of Asia. Since 1930 the fungus has rapidly spread to North America devastating priceless native and urban elm populations.
Symptoms – discoloration, wilting, and death of leaves. A common vector in our area is the European elm bark beetle which usually feeds on branches higher up in the tree where problems may first appear. Additionally, it can be transmitted through grafted roots.
Treatment – Avoid planting an American elm, and choose from a less susceptible cultivar. Preventative pruning measures may be taken by systematically removing dead, weakened, and damaged branches from healthy elms. This will eliminate breeding locations for the elm bark beetle. For high-risk, high-value elms, a preventative fungicide program may be desirable. Unfortunately, once infected, DED is fatal. Infected trees must be removed and other protective measures taken as needed.
Hypoxylon – (Aspen, Poplar, Alder, Oak, Maple, Birch, Willow, Apple, Hornbeam) this fungus causes a canker to appear on the stem (trunk) which rapidly rots the tissue.
Symptoms – yellowing upper leaves, wilting upper leaves, branch dieback, dislodged bark with a definite layer of fungus of varying color (brown to silver to black) and lichen-like in appearance.
Treatment – The best protection from Hypoxylon is to protect the tree from stress, particularly construction stress. Once identified, infected areas may be selectively pruned to prolong the life of the tree, but the disease is fatal. Infected areas may become weak and/or dangerous. Removal is recommended.
Iron Chlorosis – (Pin Oaks, Sweetgums, Soft Maples, and others) an iron deficiency resulting in stunted, yellow leaves whose veins remain green. It occurs when the pH of the soil is too high for iron to be absorbed. Other causes are over-watering and poor drainage.
Symptoms – yellow leaves with green veins, faded-out appearance of leaves, results in necrotic (dying) leaf tissue if left untreated.
Treatment – Fortunately, there are solutions to this problem. First, changes in the soil composition, watering techniques, and drainage should be attempted. These corrections take time and multiple treatments. Your certified arborist can accomplish this with the right fertilization program. Iron application treatments may be necessary and the effects are seen rapidly. Iron injections into the stem (trunk) may be considered. Rely on your certified arborist to have the correct products and best techniques to gain success with this type of problem.
Oak Wilt – (Red Oaks including Pin Oaks and more seldom on White Oaks) this vascular disease is caused by a fungus.
Symptoms – wilting of leaves from the tips to the middle vein (starts on individual branches near top of tree and moves down), leaves curl, and removing bark will reveal brown streaks in the wood. Careful! Consult your arborist. This one is easy to confuse with drought symptoms, also common in our area. Species of red oak acquire and die from the disease more readily than white oak species.
Treatment - Sadly, there is no saving an infected oak, and it will rapidly die. Prevention via proper pruning and overall health maintenance are recommended. Early detection of the disease and prompt removal will decrease the probability that the disease will spread. (Click on the thumbnails below to view Oak Wilt characteristics.)

Pine Wilt – (Mostly Scots pine, Austrian pine, rarely White pine) caused by a nematode (microscopic worm) carried on the pine sawyer beetle. The beetle deposits the nematodes under the bark, which easily allows them to work their way inward, destroying the tree’s water-conducting vessels (xylem).
Symptoms –needles are first dull-grey/green then fade to brown remaining attached, decreased resin flow, blue streaking of wood, sudden tree death.
Treatment - Unfortunately the only treatment is removal of the dying/dead tree. Early detection of pine wilt and tree removal may save the transmission to other nearby pines.
Spaeropsis Tip Blight (Austrian, Scots, Ponderosa and Mugo pines), Dothistroma Needle Blight (Austrian, Ponderosa), and Brown Spot of Pines (Scots) – all three caused by various forms of fungi that affect the needles and cones of the pine.
Symptoms – browning needles, spotted needles, and black spots on needles and cones.
Treatment - 2-3 appropriate fungicide applications are recommended in the spring.

Click here to review the steps that you and your Arborist will take when identifying an insect or disease problem.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fertilization

An integral part of a plant health care program for your trees and shrubs is proper nutrition. One of the best returns for money spent on tree care is proper fertilization. Plants with good vigor are better able to withstand the numerous detrimental effects of weather, insect activity, disease activity and changes in their immediate growing environment.

The professional grade fertilizer products we use in our programs contain two forms of nitrogen, micro-nutrients and minerals. When applied, fertilizer can provide immediate benefit and remain in the soil for 8-12 months.

You may ask, "Do my trees really need to be fertilized?" Criteria to help you determine if your trees and shrubs need fertilization are listed below:

Trees or shrubs before/after construction activity.
Trees or shrubs that you feel are valuable to your property.
Trees or shrubs that have been planted in the last few years.
Trees or shrubs that have lost their vigor or are in poor health.

If you answered "yes" to any of the statements above, it may prove worthwhile to acquire the expertise of an Arborist. Together, you can make the appropriate decisions regarding the health and longevity of your trees.