Landscaping plays a vital role in your home's curb appeal and value. A healthy lawn, colorful flowers, and green shrubs can enhance your home's look, but the addition of a few trees will add a great deal of value to your landscape design and home. Of course, proper care is essential to protect the look and underlying health of these trees. Caused by fungal growth, root rot is an infection that can quickly kill your tree. Here is some information to help you diagnose and treat trees with root rot disease.
Signs
In many cases, the signs of root rot disease are similar to the signs your tree is infested with pests. Because of this similarity, inspecting the tree thoroughly for signs of aphids, beetles, and other insects is imperative.
Here are a few signs your tree may have root rot disease:
- Wilting, yellowing, or browning of leaves
- Thinning of canopy/foliage
- Stunted growth
- Decaying branches and limbs
- Loss of branches and limbs
In many trees, root rot can display the actual fungal growth. If you notice decaying matter or cankers growing up the trunk of the tree, it is most likely root rot.
Treatment
Fungal infections spread quickly, so prevention is your best weapon against root rot.
Reducing moisture on and around your tree is best for reducing the risk of fungal growth. Make sure to plant your tree in well-drained soil and avoid watering excessively. It is also important to trim your tree regularly. Removing dead branches or limbs that are crossing and connecting one another will improve air circulation through the tree. This promotes healthy growth without any worry of a fungus.
If your tree has already been infected, trim off discolored leaves and decaying branches immediately. Be sure to dispose of this dead, infected matter away from other plants and trees, since the fungus can spread to nearby plants. Make sure to pick up any fallen leaves or branches from the ground, as well. If this debris remains near your tree, the fungal infection will continue to grow.
Applying a fungicide to an infected tree is also helpful. However, if you do not see any significant improvement or tree growth after treatment, removing the tree is essential. If the infected tree is left planted, the root rot disease will continue spreading through the root system to other trees and plants while also harming your lawn.
Root rot is a serious fungal infection that can kill the infected tree and others near it. With this guide, you will be able to diagnose, prevent, and treat this harmful infection. Contact a company, like Good Morrow, for more help.
