Hardwood trees like oaks, chestnuts, and maples take years to grow into tall, majestic features of your landscape. So once they're established, you want to do all that you can to keep them healthy. One of the most common conditions to threaten the lives of hardwood tree is root rot, a condition in which fungi invade the root system of the tree, gradually impeding its ability to gather water and send it up to the leaves. As the owner of hardwood trees, it's important that you know the ins and outs of this disease.
What causes root rot?
There are many different types of fungi that can cause this condition. A common one is known as Armillaria mellea, which is prevalent in North American forests. However, root rot can also be caused by several Ganoderma species and by other species in the Armillaria genus. The symptoms vary only slightly depending on the species of fungus that's infecting the tree, so it's not usually important to determine the exact type of fungus a tree has.
A tree can become infected with a root rot disease in several ways. If an insect harboring fungal spores burrows beneath the tree's bark, it may pass the fungal spores into the tree's deeper tissues where they replicate and lead to an infection. Sometimes the fungi are passed directly from tree to tree through underground connections between root systems.
What are the symptoms of root rot diseases?
It's far too easy to overlook the early signs of the disease, which is why you need to watch your trees closely. The first symptom of root rot is dieback of the tree's crown. The leaves on some branches may turn brown and begin falling prematurely in the summer. The first year, this dieback is rather minor. In coming years, it becomes more obvious; large portions of the tree may show little to no foliage.
Eventually, an infected tree begins developing brackets (which look like big mushrooms) near its base. These may grow on the base of the trunk where it meets the ground, or they might appear on a root that's near the ground's surface.
How is root rot treated?
A tree with root rot will eventually succumb to the disease and die, since a tree cannot live without a good root system. If you don't detect the disease until the brackets appear on the roots, then there's not much you can do aside from enjoying the last few years of your tree's life and then having it removed by a tree service. However, if you catch the disease before the brackets appear, taking great care of the tree may slow the progression of the disease and keep the tree around longer. Make sure you:
- Have the tree pruned yearly to remove dead and damaged branches.
- Spread mulch around the tree's base. It will break down and provide your tree with good nutrition.
- Water your tree if there's a period of drought.
Can you protect your tree from root rot?
There's nothing you can do to 100% guarantee your hardwood tree won't contract a root rot disease. However, following these tips will decrease the chances.
- Don't bring other hardwood onto your property. It may be harboring infectious fungal spores.
- Always sanitize your shears before cutting the tree's branches.
- Apply insecticides to your tree if you notice a lot of beetles or other insects around it.
- Avoid injuring your tree's trunk. Don't cut into it or scrape it, as fungi could be introduced through the injury.
If you suspect your hardwood tree has root rot disease, contact a tree care service, such as Destiny's Tree Service LLC, for more information.
