With its fluctuating temperatures and welcoming landscape, Missouri is home to an infinite variety of hearty, strong, and healthy trees. However, there are also many diseases and pests that are not local to Missouri but have unfortunately found their way to infect Missouri’s trees and vegetation. The following are some of those intrusive pests and diseases commonly found in Missouri trees, along with the symptoms of infection you should look for.
Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald Ash Borer is a wood boring insect that targets ash trees specifically. If it is not carefully controlled and eliminated, the Emerald Ash Borer is capable of killing off all ash trees. It will lay its larvae inside the truck and limbs of the tree, which will then disrupt nutrient and water flow towards the crown of the tree.
The shortage of this very important water and nutrients causes the discoloration and loss of foliage at the top of the tree, which then causes the tree to try and grow new branches wherever it can. If you see abnormal foliage growth at the base of an ash tree or notice a lot of woodpeckers pecking at the middle of the tree, then contact a local tree care professional for advice and solutions.
Gypsy Moth
Gypsy moths are not native to North America. In fact, they were accidently brought to North America in the 1800’s by a man who was trying to breed them with silkworms. The moths accidentally escaped which caused irreversible damage to trees in the North Eastern part of the United States. Since 1970, more than 75 million trees have been destroyed because of the Gypsy Moth infestation.
Gypsy Moths lay their eggs in a mass on trees, rocks, and other hard surfaces. If you see brown patches that look like dirty gum that is stuck to the ground, investigate the surrounding trees for small brown and white moths. Report these combined symptoms right away to a tree service provider located in your area.
Oak Wilt
Oak Wilt is caused by a fungus invasion in healthy, developed trees. It is a deadly disease that is spread through beetles who eat sap. These beetles carry the disease spores from tree to tree during the early parts of the growing season.
The symptoms of Oak Wilk involve wilting and browning of leaves near the top of the tree at the beginning of summer. The invasion of Oak Wilt will eventually, yet rapidly, cause defoliation of the whole tree.
Heart Rot Disease
Heart Rot Disease infects trees like Birch, Cedar, Dogwood, and Maple varieties. This disease is due to tree pruning, broken limbs, or damage caused by insects, animals, or fire. Heart Rot transpires as a fungus and weakens the tree by spreading the fungus throughout the middle of the trunk and branches.
It can be hard to see because the rot and fungus are found within the tree. You can check for Heart Rot by examining the trunk for open spaces where you can see inside the tree and checking for white fungus or rotting areas.
Any type of tree pest or disease can be detrimental to your trees. They can also cause an eye sore for you and visitors. You want your trees and landscaping to look its best, and our professional team members at Bluegrass Landscape and Snow Management want to help you achieve that goal. Call us today at (314) 770-2828 if you believe your trees are suffering from pests or a disease, or if you need any other kind of landscaping maintenance. We are here for you!
