Top 10 Tree Problems in Southern Utah

Tree Care for St. George, Hurricane, Washington, Cedar City and all of Southern Utah

I have been diagnosing tree problems in Southern Utah for 25 years, and these are the 10 most common tree care problems I have encountered.

Aphids

- Common problem from late March through August
- Small pear shaped insects found on and under leaves
- Leaves will be sticky from a honeydew substance the aphids excrete: this honeydew substance may drip from the tree sticking to anything below the tree
- Leaves may curl around insects
- Tree may appear a little off color
- Wasps and ants may be attracted to the honeydew the aphids produce


Borer Damage Insects

- Prevalent though out growing season
- More common on ash, birch, Locust, poplar and willow
- Smal borer holes and frass (sawdust like material) may be found on limbs, trunk and in branch crotches
- One or more branches may die
- Sparse growth throughout the tree is common
- Often the branches or stem will swell where infested

Broad-Leaf Weed Killer Damage (2,4-D)

- Frequently caused by herbicide applications made during hot weather (85 F+)
- Prevalent May through September
- Leaves curl or cup inward
- Veins become prominent
- Small stems may curl

                                          2,4-D damage of a Mulberry tree in St, George UT
                                         

Iron Chlorosis

- Prevalent throughout the growing season- Veins remain green while the area between veins turn yellow
- Newer growth is usually more susceptible than older
- Excess soil moisture reduces the availability of iron
- In severe cases leaves can turn almost white, will be smaller than normal, can have brown spots or edges and scorch in hot weather
- Some tree species (Catalpa, peach, pines, and silver maple) are more susceptible than others

Mechanical Damage

- Damage around the base of trunk caused from mowers and trimmers and other equipment
- Damage to the internal transport, vascular system from tight tie sites or ropes
- Bark may slough off above the wound
- Tree will show restricted growth and may be weaker on one side
- Branches above wound may be weakened and show signs of stress

Root Rot

- Tree is loose in the soil and if the trunk is rocked back and forth the soil around the crown may move
- Soil around roots  may have a distinct odor of rot or mildew
- Roots are soft, and may be streaked internally with the colors of black, brown or purple
- Leaves may be yellow; sparse  and drop early
- Skin of small roots may slip easily
- Few or no small white feeder roots

Slime Flux

- It is a bacterial infection of the vascular system, fermenting the sap and causing pressure to build up under the bark
- Prevalent throughout the year
- Frequently affects elms, mulberries, poplars and willows
- Slime, foam or ooze exudes from the tree, sometimes associated with a wound
- The area may have a fermented putrid smell that attracts insects
- The oozing discolors the bark where ti runs down the tree

Summer Scorch

- Caused by very hot dry weather or a compromised root system
- Symptoms are most prevalent June through September
- Leaf margins and inter veinal area turn brown and die
- Southwest side of tree and branches over driveways, roads and other hard surfaces may be more affected
- Trees with large leaves may be more affected than smaller leaves
- Iron deficient trees scorch more easily

Verticillium Wilt

- Caused by a soil borne fugue that invades the vascular system reducing sap flow
- Affects tree throughout growing season
- One or many branches may wilt, become weakened, sparse or die
- When wood is cut into, a characteristic brown to gray streaking may be found
- The disease can be fatal

Normal Needle Drop

- Common on many arborvitae, pines and other evergreens
- Interior needles turn brown
- New or outer needles remain green
- More common in fall but may occur anytime

So there you have the 10 most common tree problems in Southern Utah.

I have seen these in St. George, Cedar City, Ivins, Bloomington and throughout the state.

Please feel free to contact Master Arbor to get a Diagnosis of your tree problems.

There are some preventative alternatives that will keep your tree healthy.

Tree care is our business

Any questions or comments are very welcome

Kevan (Master Arbor) masterarbor@gmail.com

Web site www.master-arbor.com

Birch Tree Carpenter Worms

If you  see this much Sawdust "frass" at the base of your tree "YOU MAY HAVE Carpenter worms"

This is a big problem when this much frass is found at the base of any tree.

Carpenter Worms

Problem: The larval stage of the carpenterworm is a large, wood-boring caterpillar that feeds within a tree’s inner bark on the sapwood. The earliest signs of an infestation are dark sap spots on the tree trunk. As the larvae feed within the sapwood, they expel frass (excrement) and sawdust out of the gallery entrance hole. This material is readily observable on infested tree trunks.

As the larvae grow, they expand the galleries. By the time the larvae are mature, the galleries are about 1/2 inch in diameter and 6 to 10 inches long; most of the gallery is vertical, except for the entrance area. Gallery entrances often are found in crotch areas of trees or in cracks and crevices in the bark. Adult females frequently lay eggs in areas of the tree that already are infested, and multiple galleries might arise in the same area, leading to extensive scarring on the corky bark tissue.

When mature, larvae can measure up to 1/2 inch in diameter and 2 to 3 inches long. They usually are greenish white with a dark brown head. They also have prominent hairs on their body, distinctive abdominal prolegs, and sharp, hooked legs on their thorax.

The adult carpenterworm is a large, robust moth with a wing expanse of about 3 inches. The forewings are mottled black and gray, making the moths difficult to see when they are resting on a tree trunk. The male moth is somewhat smaller than the female, and its hind wings are orange and brown while those of the female are off-w

Analysis: The extensive feeding of carpenter­worms in large branches can cause branches to weaken and break in high winds. The potential for dropping limbs is a major hazard in urban settings. Branch girdling by carpenter­worms, a process that disrupts a tree’s flow of nutrients and water, also can cause dieback of branches.

Solution:Provide trees with proper cultural care and protect them from injuries. Appropriate irrigation is especially important. Trees are better able to tolerate a few carpenterworms if they are kept vigorous.

If heavy carpenterworm infestations are suspected, have a qualified arborist inspect the trees. Because of the strong possibility of limb breakage as a result of carpenterworm feeding, heavily infested branches should be removed back to the point of attachment. In some cases, tree removal might be the best option.

It might be possible to kill the larvae by poking a long, sharp wire into the individual galleries, because a larva keeps its gallery open to the outside. This method is most practical when the infestation is small. However, it is difficult to know if the wire has penetrated far enough to kill the larva. To see if there is further larval activity after attempting to kill the larva, clear away any frass and sawdust material and mark the gallery site with a daub of paint. Recheck the site weekly to see if new frass material has been expelled. If so, the larva still is alive.

This tree went without water for 2 years at an abandoned house in Cedar City Utah. /the carpenter worm attacked this tree and now you can see the damage. We had to remove this tree.

Biological and Chemical Control

A very successful biocontrol option is the use of a single treatment of the beneficial nematodes Steinernema feltiaeor S. carpocapsae. While using nematodes might require additional monitoring and perhaps retreatment, they can be very effective in controlling carpenterworm infestations.

Except for nematodes, available insecticides are not effective against larvae beneath bark. Any other sprays must be aimed at adults, and successful control is difficult to achieve. Carefully monitor the tree bark at least once a week beginning in late winter, then promptly spray bark with an insecticide labeled for trunk and bark treatment when the first new pupal cases appear. There are very few pesticides that are labeled for carpenterworm. Homeowner products that contain a formulation of carbaryl or permethrin are available and might provide some control of the emerging and egg-laying adults if the material is applied when susceptible insects are present. However, because of the prolonged life cycle and varying development rates among individual carpenterworms, it will be necessary to repeatedly inspect bark and respray at intervals over a period of about 4 years or longer.

Do not spray trees unless comprehensive resources—including improved cultural care and an improved growing environment—can be provided long-term to reduce the likelihood of carpenterworm reinfestation.

Zimmerman Moth Damage

Zimmerman Moth

If you have a Pinion Pine tree or an Austrian Pine tree, look for these signs of the Zimmerman Pine Moth.

Problem. Masses of pitch(sap) accumulate on the trunk near a whorl of branches. The trunk may be swollen above the masses and shrunken below them, Tops and branch tips may wilt and droop to resemble a shepherd's crick, then turn brown and die. Trees are stunted and deformed.

Analysis: The Zimmerman pine moth (Dioryctria zimmermani) is a serious pest of pines in the North-Central states. It attacks most pine trees and Douglas fir. Adults lay eggs in midsummer close to wounds on pine trees. Worms that hatch from these eggs immediately crawl under loose bark and hibernate until spring. As the new growth begins to expand the following spring, the larvae feed inside the tops of small trees and the branch tips of larger trees, causing the characteristic "shepherd's crook." In the late spring, they leave these shoots and crawl to the trunk, where they tunnel into the trunk to feed on the inner bark. Their tumbling causes the swelling and pitch masses where they feed. In midsummer, they pupate and emerge as adult moths.

Solution: Prune and destroy shepherd's crooks as soon as they are discovered to destroy the worms inside them. In midsummer, spray with neem oil. Wet the bark thoroughly to reach the newly hatched worms hiding under loose bark. In the spring,, spray again to kill the worms as they crawl across the bark to enter shoots.

Utah locations found to have Zimmerman Moths by Master Arbor so far, have been the following:

Cedar City
Pine Valley town
Dammeron Valley
Veyo
New Harmony


Call us for consultation or to treat the trees.

Cedar Mountain Update

Palm Tree Care in Utah

Who's idea was it to Plant Palm Trees in Southern Utah anyway?

Well it has defiantly caught on, and now everyone seems to have at least one palm in the yard.

Everyone just needs to know how to take care of that palm now.

First of all lets look at the palms that do the best in this area.

Mediterranean Fan Palm,  Chamaerops humilis.  This is a small, multi-trunk palm that grows slowly, reaching a height of 10-15 feet. It will tolerate most soils, and could be stunted by drought; so water it moderately for best results. This palm prefers full sun to partial shade and is cold hardy to 10 degrees.

California Fan Palm, Washingtonia filifera. This is the large palm you see all over town. It is a tall palm with a heavy trunk. That will grow up to 80 feet in height., but is usually seen at heights of 20 to 40 feet in this area. Such a big palm will need plenty of space so note this when planting. Don't put it too close to the house or fences. It will tolerate most soils, prefers full sun to part shade, and will benefit from moderate watering. The California Fan Palms are cold-hardy to 15 degrees.

Windmill Palm, Trachycarpus fortunei. This small palm grows slowly reaching only 15-20 feet. You will recognize this palm by the thick matted covered trunk fiber. It is best planted in partial shade and needs moderate watering. This palm is cold-hardy to 10 degrees.

Other palms seen in the area, but do not do well in this area:

Canary Island Date Palm
Mexican Blue Palm
Mexican Fan Palm

These palms often show ugly winter damage. They will prefer warmer areas and will winter kill in the St. George area.

Prune a palm to a 90 to a 45 degree angle on the tree fronds. Fertilize in the summer when the temperature is over 90 F. Fertilize with a palm tree fertilizer, which will have the proper amount of manganese and add some gypsum.

Stay away from those pesky thorns on the fronds. They will cause a lot of pain and blood loss if you are not careful. Tree guys don't like them much.

Have a good day and happy palm tree growing.

Kevan

Palm Tree Care in Utah

Arbor Day New Harmony Utah

New Harmony Utah will be having it's first annual Arbor Day Celebration on May 16th 2009.

As of January 2009 the city of New Harmony adopted a new city ordinance for a shade tree committee for the preservation of its city trees. Also to help with the planting of new trees on city property. The mayor has proclaimed the 3rd weekend in May of each year for an Arbor Day Celebration. This is the first step in becoming a Tree City USA. Which will help in getting grants for the maintenance of our trees now and to help maintain and grow new trees in the city.


Arbor Day activities for New Harmony Utah.

We will be opening with a flag raising ceremony at 9am, the Mayor Joel Webster will be opening the ceremony with the declaration of Arbor Day.

Kevan Jorgensen will then go over the days activities and the importance of trees in the urban communities.

We will have trees for sale to the public for only 5$ per tree. This money will be used to pay for the removal 2 large Hazardous trees in the community.

There will also be a demonstration of how to prune a mature Apple tree. New Harmony has hundreds of mature apple trees that could use a proper pruning.

We will have food available for lunch.

Plant World and Big Trees Nursery have donated a total of 2 large trees for our Arbor Day. One tree will be dedicated to our first Arbor Day Celebration. The other large tree will be raffled off to a lucky citizen of the community.

Hope to see you all there. May 16th 2009.

Plant Trees in Memory

A vibrant, beautiful tree benefits everyone in this and future generations and is perhaps the most fitting memorial of all. Planting a tree is an act of direct benefit to all.

It can inspire energy, faith, devotion, and courage and carry forward the name of those memorialized in a living, vital way that grows grander with the years.