Fungi cause many of the most common types of tree diseases. When dangerous microorganisms, such as mushroom spores, take over your tree, they can break down its organic structures, causing rapid decay. Knowing the common types of tree fungus diseases and the signs that your tree is infected helps prevent widespread damage on your property.
Below, our team from Limbwalkers Tree & Crane Service, offering top-tier tree services in Lenoir, NC, goes over five common tree fungi. For help with tree fungus identification, give us a call.
1. Canker Disease
Canker diseases create sunken, dead patches of bark where fungi attack the inner tissues of branches and trunks. Here are some common fungal canker diseases:
- Thousand canker disease: This disease is driven by a fungus and walnut twig beetles, leading to clusters of small cankers that gradually choke off the tree’s ability to move water. Black walnut trees are especially vulnerable.
- Hypoxylon canker: Often triggered when a tree is already stressed, this fungus grows beneath the bark and causes sections to shed away. Oaks are common hosts.
- Phytophthora bleeding canker: This water-loving fungus-like organism infects the lower trunk and causes reddish or brownish sap to “bleed” from the bark. The surrounding tissue appears water-soaked.
- Cytospora canker: Seen in many hardwoods and spruces, Cytospora causes discolored, sunken bark and small pimple-like fungal structures. Like many types of tree fungus diseases, this can lead to rapid decay if not addressed promptly.
2. Root Rot
Root rot is a soil-borne fungal disease that commonly affects species like firs, pines, maples, and ornamentals, especially when they’re growing in poorly drained soil. The fungus attacks the root system, causing it to turn mushy and decay. Above ground, trees show thinning foliage, early leaf drop, and slow decline as water uptake fails.
3. Anthracnose
Anthracnose is a leaf and twig disease frequently seen on sycamore, maple, ash, oak, and other deciduous hardwoods. It typically appears in cool, wet spring weather, producing brown blotches on leaves, curled leaf margins, and premature shedding. Reinfected branches may develop small cankers, giving the tree a patchy, scorched appearance early in the season.
4. Verticillium Wilt
Verticillium wilt is a vascular disease that commonly impacts maples, redbuds, and smoke trees. It enters through the roots and blocks water movement inside the tree. Symptoms include sudden wilting on one side of the canopy, leaf scorch, and discolored wood beneath the bark.
5. Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew affects many trees, from dogwoods and oaks to maples, crabapples, and lilacs. It thrives in warm, humid conditions with poor air circulation. The disease creates a white, powder-like coating on leaves and shoots, potentially causing foliage to drop early.
Do You Need Help Preventing Tree Fungal Infections?
Now that you know the common types of tree fungus diseases, you might have realized that it’s time to save a dying tree on your property. At Limbwalkers Tree & Crane Service, we can help with everything from protecting trees from fungus to saving decaying ones. Call us now at (828) 413-7227.
