Your trees are a valuable asset on your New England property. However, different trees can be subject to different problems in the landscape. It’s important that you remain diligent about potential threats.
If you have pines, spruce, Douglas fir, or other coniferous evergreens on your property, you might be concerned about needle cast disease. If your tree’s needles are changing color, dying, and falling off, it’s possible that you are dealing with this disease which is caused by the fungi that infect the new needles of evergreens.
In this article, we will answer some of your common questions in regard to needle cast disease. We’ll cover the identification, treatment, and prevention of this harmful infection.
We will cover the following points.
What is Needle Cast Disease?
How to Treat Needle Cast Disease
How to Prevent Needle Cast Disease in New England
Choosing the Best Tree Care in Your Area
Making wise choices for your trees can help preserve the longevity of these beloved assets.
What is Needle Cast Disease?
Needle Cast is a collective term used to describe a variety of diseases caused by various fungi that can infect the needles of pines, spruce, Douglas fir, and true fir trees. These types of trees are common in New England, and we often see needle-cast diseases.
When a tree has a Needle Cast Disease, you might notice that the needles turn yellow or brown and eventually fall off.
Of course, other tree problems can cause a tree’s needles to turn colors or fall off so a proper diagnosis must be made. These types of diseases are sometimes misdiagnosed as spider mite damage, which is why it’s important to work with a tree care professional.
Needle Cast Disease is also not the only disease that can affect your pines. Pine Wilt, for instance, is a fatal disease caused by the “Pine Wilt Nematode.” It’s important to understand exactly what’s going on.
How to Treat Needle Cast Disease
As with a lot of diseases (and tree problems in general), the best course of action will depend on exactly what you’re dealing with and how severe it is. There are fungicides that can treat some of these concerns but in some cases, trees will bounce back on their own.
Of course, if a tree is severely ravaged by disease, it might not even be worth attempting a fungicide. It’s possible that it could be too far gone to be restored.
It’s important to work with a tree care professional who will be transparent in his or her evaluation of your tree so that the best decisions can be made.
How to Prevent Needle Cast Disease in New England
One of the best things that you can do to protect the health of your trees is to invest in Plant Health Care.
Plant Health Care includes services like disease treatment, fertilization, and insect control. Healthier trees will be able to fare better against problems like Needle Cast Disease.
We tell homeowners that this is a protection of their investment. The trees on your property are a significant asset and you want to do what you can to prevent problems. Often, Plant Health Care can play an important role in that effort.
Of course, as we’ve mentioned, if your tree is already severely ravaged by disease, you want to make sure you’re working with a tree care professional who is going to be honest about what can be achieved. Not every tree can be saved.
Choosing Tree Care in Southern NH, Northeastern Massachusetts, and Southern Maine
When it comes to the health of your trees, you do not want to leave anything to chance. Often, tree problems are complicated and it’s important that a proper diagnosis is made by a pro.
A benefit of having a professional performing tree care in New England is that they’ll also be scouting for signs of a problem while they are on your property. The earlier that you notice something is wrong, the better.
Along with all that, a professional can often also implement preventative measures to protect your tree in the first place. It’s important to recognize that trees can be subject to a number of problems (not just disease). Trees can also face problems with pests and environmental stressors. A pro can help with these issues as well.
Getting the best care for trees boils down to choosing the best tree care service. In order to make sure that you are choosing wisely, you’ll need to do some research on the companies you are considering.
At Seacoast Tree Care in Southern NH, ME, and MA, we have a team of highly skilled Certified Arborists who can not only perform thorough inspections (to identify problems) but will also help guide you toward the best solutions.
Often, there is a window of time will treatments will work, so it’s important to be prudent. Fortunately, when you partner with a tree care professional, you are likely to be able to preserve your trees and continue enjoying their value.
Ready for healthier trees at your Southern NH, ME, or MA home? Request your consultation and have your New England trees evaluated. By making a wise choice, you’ll know your trees are in good hands.
Image Source: needle cast disease
