Beech Leaf Disease is a fatal disease affecting beech tree varieties in the eastern part of the US. It was first discovered in Ohio in 2012 and has since been spreading through counties in Ohio as well as to Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Michigan, Maryland, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Virginia, and Ontario. As of the current moment, Beech Leaf Disease is 100% fatal to affected trees — there is no way to treat or cure a tree once it has been exposed.
How Has Beech Leaf Disease Been Spreading?
Beech Leaf Disease spreads by the nematode (a microscopic worm) called Litylenchus crenatae mccannii. The symptoms begin on the lower leaves of the tree and eventually spread throughout the tree, also impacting buds and new growth. Because all trees affected die off, there is no effective treatment for Beech Leaf Disease, and the focus has instead been on slowing and attempting to stop the spread of the disease.
What’s the Current State of Beech Leaf Disease in Ohio?
Here in Ohio, Beech Leaf Disease has been found throughout 23 counties in northeastern Ohio and two counties in northwestern Ohio. The rest of Ohio is so far unaffected, but it probably won’t remain that way.
Signs and Symptoms of Beech Leaf Disease
The first signs of Beech Leaf Disease are dark green lines between the veins on the leaves on the lower branches of the trees. After that, the leaves will begin to brown and die off, and the symptoms spread throughout the tree. Eventually, the tree will die. If you notice any early signs and symptoms of Beech Leaf Disease, you should call a local arborist as soon as possible, especially if you are located in an area where Beech Leaf Disease is already known to exist. But if you have even a rough suspicion that your beech tree might be infected, please do get in touch with your local tree service as soon as possible. An early warning of the spread of Beech Leaf Disease to your area might help your local arborists slow the spread and save a lot of trees.
What You Can Do to Combat Beech Leaf Disease
The single most important thing you can do is to have your trees regularly trimmed and inspected by tree service professionals. As professional arborists, we know what to look for, and can catch the earliest signs of Beech Leaf Disease (or many other arboreal diseases). Early detection is currently our best weapon against this killer, to help slow, and possibly halt, its spread. Properly pruned trees seem to also be less susceptible to infection with Beech Leaf Disease. You can also stay actively up-to-date about the progression of Beech Leaf Disease in your area, and help to spread the word between neighbors and throughout your area. There has been some hopeful early research into the use of anti-fungal treatments with some success against Beech Leaf Disease, so if you think your trees could be affected, call your local tree service company to see if they can help. Sadly, one of the most helpful things you can do to help to protect trees from Beech Leaf Disease is to be willing to have your trees quickly and professionally removed if you discover your trees are affected.
Here at Tree Images, we’re here to help you through your trees’ healthy times and not so healthy times. We’re on the front lines of the battle against Beech Leaf Disease here in Ohio, and we’re your strongest partners in protecting your trees. If you notice signs of Beech Leaf Disease in your trees, or you think you see infected trees in your area of Cincinnati, please do let us know. It will take a strong partnership between professional tree services and homeowners to help to fight this arboreal plague.
