Leaf spot disease has so many variants that any leafy green or non-green leaves are at risk.
Leaf spot disease describes any variety of fungal and bacterial infections that show visible signs and cause similar damage. As the name implies, these infections appear as tiny spots all over the affected leaves. The spots could be red, reddish-brown, black, gray, and sometimes orange.
Leaf spot disease has so many variants that any leafy green or non-green leaves are at risk. However, these spots all mean that a plant is sick. Harford Tree Experts & Landscaping Inc. is here to walk you through more information that you should know about leaf spot disease.
What are the Consequences of Leaf Spot Disease?
Spotty leaves might appear harmless. However, the more spots appear on a leaf; the less surface area the leaf has to perform photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process that allows leaves to convert sunlight into energy.
Impacted leaves that can’t photosynthesize will leave the entire tree to suffer from a lack of nutrients. Thus, if there are too many spots, the leaf will perish.
What is the Cause?
Diseased leaves that fall to the ground and perish can still infect other neighboring plants, even if it seems as if this leaf itself has withered. Overcrowded plants can also pass the disease along by contact.
Also, leaf spot disease spreads the most in damp conditions where wet leaves remain wet for a long time. Common causes for these wet conditions are sprinkler systems and watering trees and shrubs by pouring over the top of the plant.
What to do When Identifying this Disease
This disease isn’t rare and spreads often. However, severe cases are rare. You should be concerned if a tree loses 50% or more of its leaves in one season or if this has happened for two or more consecutive years.
Management and Prevention
The best thing you can do is to ensure that your trees are healthy. Your trees should have plenty of room to grow above and underground. Annual pruning also helps to clear away dead or dying limbs. It also helps to thin out tree canopies to ensure branches don’t have to compete for nutrients, which leads to healthier trees overall. It’s also best to pay attention to the weather and water your trees during the growing season if they go a week or more without rain.
If a tree becomes sick regardless of these efforts, you should:
- Rake away affected leaves before they can spread the disease
- Reduce damp conditions by watering trees, shrubs, and plants near the base to ensure leaves don’t become wet
- Consider a plant’s full-grown size when deciding where to put them to prevent overcrowding
- Thinning out current plants to avoid overcrowding
You should also hire Harford Tree to consistently keep your trees in the best shape. Our arborists provide tree trimming and pruning services to keep your trees healthy and looking their best.
Tree Care and Maintenance from Harford Tree
Ready to have the beautiful yard you have always dreamed of? Harford Tree Experts & Landscaping, Inc has been in the business for decades, providing customers with quality work and quick responses all at the right price. We service the areas of Harford County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City areas including Bel Air, Fallston, Perry Hall, Towson, Essex, Parkville, White Marsh, and Middle River. For service during business hours, reach out to us or give us a call at 410-592-7321. We offer 24/7 emergency service as well, just give us a call at 443-250-6649. For updates about our business and more informative tips, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.