Fungi that grow on and around trees can affect overall tree health and can even cause trees to die or weaken to the point of threatening their survival and causing them to become a danger. While often viewed by homeowners as harmless, tree fungi can cause diseases, can spread quickly, and can completely undermine the integrity of a tree. When a spore takes hold on a tree under the “right” conditions, it can enter and feed on the tree. When this happens, you will typically see toadstools, dwarf benches, puffballs and different kinds of mushrooms growing on the tree or around the root system.
Fungi are responsible for the following adverse tree conditions:
Root and Butt Rot Diseases
These diseases infect the roots of a tree, causing decay and (eventually) death of the roots. Root and butt rot diseases cause decay of tree trunks – affecting the structural integrity of the tree, eventually causing total structural failure of the tree, sometimes without advance warning. These diseases can develop for years without a homeowner being aware of it, the only evidence in the form of mushrooms or bracket fruiting bodies. Seeing, say, shelf fruiting bodies at a tree’s base may indicate that the disease has already caused a significant amount of rot in the base of the tree or in its roots. These are signs that an expert tree service knows to look out for.
Canker Diseases
This type of problem usually enters through wounds on branch stubs. Canker diseases are commonly caused by improper tree pruning techniques. Cankers appear as large dead spots on bark, branches, stems, or twigs. They can look like depressed or discolored areas. These cankers are caused by a fungus that spreads between the bark and the wood. These diseases happen more often on hardwoods than on conifer trees, and they can spread from one tree to another.
Foliar/Shoot Diseases
These are among the most common plant diseases. Symptoms present as small or large blotches on leaves and needles and can lead to the death of leaves and shoots. In the case of swollen shoot, it is a viral disease transmitted by mealybugs.
Vascular Wilts
When this disease has attacked a tree’s vascular system, it can be deadly to the affected tree. Vascular wilt can disrupt the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. These wilts happen as a pathogen spreads in the xylem vessels of the plant. When they occur, part or all of a stem dies, and the foliage supported by that stem dies with it.
Options For Managing Fungi
It is difficult, if not impossible, to save a tree that has been attacked by fungi. Prevention is the key as a healthy tree is less likely to become a host for fungi. But early detection and action can be the difference between the tree surviving … and not. The methods for keeping a tree healthy include watering during drought periods and following a sensible maintenance fertilization schedule. Fungicides can be applied to control some fungal diseases by inhibiting the fungi growth before it takes hold.
Pruning as Protection
Proper pruning of young trees will promote a strong structure. Cutting large limbs from older trees will create large wounds which are then susceptible to the growth of fungi. That said, dead or diseased limbs should still be cut off, because leaving them creates a larger risk to the tree, as well as to people and property in the vicinity. But it is best if tree pruning, if necessary, be done by a tree service professional who can utilize pruning techniques that will enable the wound to close properly.
Tree Fungus Treatment
There are DIY tree fungus treatments available from your local garden supply store, although your results may vary, and it’s important to be very cautious because fungicides can be harmful to people, pets, other plants, and wildlife. Once tree fungus has invaded your tree, it truly is best to get the opinion of a tree service professional who can advise you whether it is possible to save the tree, and if so, what is the best course of treatment.
Fungal management is a science. The tree experts at Tree Images have the knowledge and the experience to examine your trees and determine if any are at risk from a fungus attack of any kind. We also know how to maintain your trees to protect them from these and other threats that can damage or kill your trees.
REFERNCES:
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/mushroomlike-fungus-found-trees-57460.html
