Fungus Among Us
Fungi attack most types of plants in the Cincinnati area. However, only a few types of fungi are real threats to the overall health of trees commonly used in landscaped settings. Most of the time fungal infections present an aesthetic problem rather than a serious health threat.
The most common fungal infections in our area include:
Scab: Crabapples
Rust: Hawthorns, Crabapples
Anthracnose: Ash, Sycamores, Walnuts
Leaf Blotch: Buckeyes
Powdery Mildew: Dogwoods, Ninebark shrubs, Old-Fashioned Lilacs
Needle Cast: Evergreens
Tip Blight: Evergreens
Fungi thrive under 3 conditions:
They must have a susceptible host to attack.
They need a way to spread their spores (such as wind or rain).
They need weather conditions that allow them to develop – Usually cool, damp weather or (in the case of Powdery Mildew) warm, humid conditions.
Fungal infections only occur where all 3 conditions are present!
While we can’t control the weather or the humidity, there are lots of things we can do to lessen the impact of fungal infections on the health of your plants.
Preventative measures:
When planting new trees, select trees that are disease resistant.
Properly prune trees to allow for faster drying of leaf tissue.
Remove infected material to reduce the inoculums (including removing infected leaves from under the trees).
Applications of fungicides (the early spring timing of application is critical to control).
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about fungal diseases or other Plant Health Care issues. Our ISA Certified Arborists will be happy to make recommendations!
