Tooth-ridged leaves, and tall and oh-so-beautiful, elm trees are the epitome of natural beauty. However, diseases can also attack this tree and make it go from beautiful to lifeless where you have no other option than to fell the tree using tree removal services. Here are eight diseases you need to know about that are associated with elm trees.

Elm Leaf Scorch

Elm leaf scorch is a disease caused by a bacterium. It is the clogging of the veins of the leaves, which prevents water from flowing through the leaves and the rest of the parts of the tree.

This leads to the leaf looking very dehydrated and almost scorched, so it will have a dark brown color to it. There is no known cure for elm leaf scorch other than just removing the dead leaves and watering the trees.

Dutch Elm Tree Disease

The Dutch elm tree disease is primarily a fungal disease that attacks the roots of the trees. The fungus waits around until it fully develops and that is when all hell breaks loose. This disease causes the tree to weaken and it can also lead to weakening of the roots and wilting of the tree. The Dutch elm tree disease is caused by either bark beetles or root damage.

The leaves will also turn yellow and the tree will sag significantly. So, you want to ensure that you’re keeping an eye out for possible damage, because that is the only way of saving your tree for good, aside from pruning and regular sprays of fungicides and pesticides.

Spongy Moth Damage

Spongy moths are small caterpillars that make their appearance from May to July. These caterpillars feed on the leaves of the trees and some can even be found underneath the leaves. It doesn’t only damage the leaves, but it also causes defoliation of the trees, weakening of the tree and it might even be able to fend for itself against other pests.

So, you want to prevent this from happening by introducing predators, hand-picking the caterpillars, and spraying the trees to prevent further damage.

Bark Beetle

Elm bark beetle is also a very dangerous insect that can cause internal damage to the tree. The larvae of the beetle nestle within the tree and once it grows into a beetle, it can emerge and wreak havoc.

To identify the attack of the elm bark beetle, you need to look for red sawdust on the elm tree. That’s how you know that the tree is under attack. You want to prune the parts of the damaged tree and also spray it down to ensure that future infestations are avoided.

European Elm Scale

European elm scale is also an insect that not only attacks elm trees but also elm tree hybrids. It is a very small insect and initially, you might not even notice the tree being latched by these critters. However, you don’t want the size to fool you as the elm scale can lead to a lot of damage since it sucks on the sap of the tree.

Once the tree is infected, it can lead to browning of leaves, branches breaking prematurely, and even the death of the tree in the long run, so it’s better that you keep an eye on it and prune the trees and spray them to disinfect the tree.

Elm Yellows

Caused by leafhoppers or root grafts, elm yellows is a very aggressive disease that can lead to the death of the tree in no time. Unfortunately, this disease doesn’t have any cure so prevention is key when it comes to protecting the trees. Elm yellows affect the inner bark of the tree, also known as phloem, and once that is affected, then the nutrient supply of the tree is cut off and it also degenerates in health.

The leaves turn light yellow with brown and curled edges, the overall health of the tree is very bad, and the branches also lose their strength and they can easily fall off the tree, because of not getting enough nutrients from the roots to survive. So, if you see a tree that is forming elm yellows, then you want to immediately remove it for good, even removing the roots from the ground.

Since elm yellows has no cure, it’s impossible to save the tree once you see the symptoms, which is why it’s recommended that you opt for tree removal as this will only ensure that the rest of the trees in the vicinity don’t get infected by this very ruthless disease. Look for certified tree cutting services Bethesda for safe tree felling.

Damage By Longhorn Beetle

Asian longhorn beetle is a very notorious critter that can cause a great deal of damage to elm trees. The Asian longhorn beetle attacks the sapwood of the elm tree, which is usually very spongy and soft, and once it is exposed to the external agents of damage, then it can lead to a lot of problems, including severe infections in the tree.

Usually, after an Asian longhorn beetle infests an elm tree, it can die within a year or two. Since the Asian longhorn beetle attacks the jugular of the tree, the sapwood being the part of the tree that allows nutrients and water to flow throughout the tree, it is highly dangerous and it needs to be dealt with before it’s too late.

For remedial action, introducing natural predators like birds and larger insects will do the trick. If you can see the beetles, then remove them by hand or prune the part of the trees that have infestations. Also, you might want to use natural pesticides and insecticides on the trees, especially when the growth season of longhorn beetles is in full swing. This is going to decrease the infestation and you’ll be able to save your elm tree.

Root Rot

Fungi can also cause irreparable damage to the roots of the elm tree. It can be caused by either exposure or damage to the tree and it can worsen in condition over time. The roots and the trunk of the tree, which are usually protected from the weather and external agents, can be exposed when there is damage to them or they are exposed to wind, water, and insects.

Over time, the fungus can start to thrive on the exposed parts of the tree, and it can lead to browning of the leaves, death of the roots, and also damage and discoloration to the bark and trunk of the tree.

Laetiporus sulphureus is a very common fungal pathogen that can cause rotting of the elm tree roots. This is why to protect the tree from root damage, you want to keep an eye on the exposed tree parts and ensure that no fungus latches onto the tree and leads to damage. Pruning and cleaning of the tree and its surroundings will also do wonders.

Conclusion

Elm trees can fall victim to a bunch of diseases and you need to know how to combat them if you want your tree to be happy and healthy for long. Hire arborist services Kensington for tree inspection and care or removal.