In the world of arboriculture, new tree diseases and pests are a big deal. It’s always a concern when a disease seems to be gaining momentum and threatening the health of trees from near to far.
Recently, Beech Leaf Disease (which is also referred to as “BLD” for short in our industry) has popped up on the radar as a threat to watch. While it was first noted in Ohio in 2012, it’s now spreading up and down the East Coast, affecting both mature American beech trees as well as saplings.
It’s become big enough news that you might have even seen some of the headlines yourself.
For instance, Science magazine reported: Beech Leaf Disease is Ravaging North American Trees while USA Today called BLD a “heartbreaking threat to forests along the East Coast.”
It’s all enough to have you wondering what this disease is all about and whether your property might be in harm’s way.
In this article, we’ll help answer some of your most common questions about Beech Leaf Disease as well as share our best advice on how to handle it. You can rest assured that we’re keeping up with the latest research so that we can help our clients make the most informed decisions.
What causes BLD?
Beech Leaf Disease is caused by a parasite—more specifically, a nematode. This microscopic worm is believed to be spread by mites, birds, insects, or even the wind.
Beech Leaf Disease nematodes overwinter in beech buds and then attack the leaves as soon as they start to grow in the spring.
What does BLD look like?
It’s helpful to understand the visible signs of BLD. There are some specific signs and symptoms that you would see on a tree affected with Beech Leaf Disease.
These include:
- Dark stripes between the veins of the leaves
- Leaf curling, deformed, or shriveled
- A sudden “leathery texture” to leaves
- Premature dropping
- Overall thinned canopy
The dark stripes or bands are probably the first sign that you’ll notice. If you have a Beech on your property and it has banding, it’s quite likely your tree has Beech Leaf Disease.
As the disease progresses in the second year, leaves will begin to curl up. Within a few years, leaves can start to fall off completely and the tree may starve.
Without a way to produce food, a beech can die within a few years.
What trees can get Beech Leaf Disease?
All beech trees can potentially get Beech Leaf Disease. This includes American, European, and Asian species of beeches.
Research is currently underway to try and understand why some beech trees resist the disease while others (even right around them) do not.
It’s believed that certain species may be genetically resistant but this has yet to be fully understood. In the future, developing resistant strains could be part of the solution to prevent Beech Leaf Disease.
Right now, you should assume that any beech on your property could get this disease.
Are there other beech tree diseases?
Prior to BLD, Beech Bark Disease (BBD) was the biggest threat to beech trees. This blight is caused by an interaction between scale insects and a fungus and only occurs when both are present.
Unfortunately, BLD is now a much bigger threat than BBD.
Is there any way to prevent BLD on healthy trees?
There is no 100-percent surefire way to prevent BLD on your healthy beech trees. However, good cultural tree habits are important, and new treatment options are available.
Our Certified Arborists recommend that you keep up with regular tree pruning in order to improve the movement of oxygen and sunlight throughout your trees. It is believed that drying out the leaves can help reduce the nematodes' lifecycle and their ability to spread.
Overall tree care habits such as proper watering, mulching, and tree fertilization can also play a role in maintaining good health.
What are the Beech Leaf Disease treatment options?
The problem with new tree diseases is that the research has to catch up in order to have available solutions.
Luckily, recent research has yielded several new treatment options for Beech Leaf Disease.
Arborists can now treat affected trees in several ways:
- Fungicide Macro Infusions. These treatments can be injected into the root flare of Beech trees. Macro Infusions are large-volume infusions of water and fungicide into the tree's vascular system.
- Foliar Sprays & Phosphite Soil Injections. Foliar sprays cover the tree canopy with product, while phosphite injections can boost tree defenses and introduce fungicides into the soil / root zone. These practices are potential treatment options at this time and are not currently provided by our arborists.
At Joshua Tree Experts, we are staying on top of the latest science and watching for proven and cost-effective treatment options that we can adopt.
Our Certified Arborists are also keeping a close eye on our clients’ beech trees and educating them about this disease.
Here to Be Your Tree Care Partner
Tree diseases are a complicated issue. While some have treatment options, others do not. And there are often new diseases (and new pests) being discovered that pose brand-new threats.
This is why it’s so important to have a tree care partner that you can lean on for help. They can help you identify problems with your trees and implement the best possible plan of action.
At Joshua Tree Experts, we also offer a Plant Health Care program that will add a layer of protection against many potential threats. While it can’t prevent BLD, it can improve the overall health of your tree, which should help it better stand up against potential threats.
We know that new threats like BLD are a major concern. But we’re doing what we can to keep up with the research and educate the public. At the end of the day, this is just one of many potential problems that the trees on your property could face.
Though it’s not a cure-all solution, by having a Certified Arborist visit your property regularly as part of a Plant Health Care program, you’ll be able to gain peace of mind that your property is being closely monitored. This means many problems will be caught and addressed allowing you to enjoy the life of your trees for years to come.
With the right care for your trees, you’ll gain valuable peace of mind. If you’re interested in having your trees inspected and their health assured, contact us for a free consultation or give us a call at 833-JTE-TREE.
Image Source | Beech Tree Leaves, Beech Leaf Disease
