Disease Control

Not all of Mother Nature's creations are beneficial nor tolerated by our customers.  Here in the Pacific Northwest we experience extremes in moisture and temperature, all of which contribute to stress which can bring on disease issues.

Spring, March through May, is our disease time.  It's also the time we see our flowering and fruiting trees in bloom, making them susceptible to many water and air borne pathogens.  Most diseases are air borne and require water to propagate.  Fungal spores, think of them as disease seeds, germinate on leaf litter, branches and trunks.  They then get distributed along with a breeze or a raindrop splashing them on to a hosts bud, flower, leaf or wound. 

In order for a disease to take hold you need 3 parts of the Disease Triangle: a pathogen, a susceptible host and a favorable environment.  The following link shows the Disease Triangle in more detail http://www.plantpath.wisc.edu/PDDCEducation/MasterGardener/General/Slide2.htm

Unfortunately, our spring weather does not always allow appropriate drying time.  Add to it a wound or a stressed tree, and the result is a myriad of disease issues.

Some examples are:  Brown Blossom Blight of cherry; Apple and Pear Scab; Dutch Elm Disease; Anthracnose of sycamore and ash; shot hole on flowering cherry; leaf spots on photinia; rust on pear, Leyland cypress and mountain ash; Seiridium canker on cypress; verticillium wilt of Japanese maples; fire blight  on apple, pear and hawthorn and Phytophthora on rhododendrons.  Most of these diseases affect many other species as well.

Most diseases can be controlled or suppressed, the later if the disease is noticed too late.  In some cases, such as anthracnose, blossom blight and scab, it's best to treat before bud break, as a preventative measure.  Some tree varieties or species are always disease prone and need treatments every year.  In severe cases, some even need two or three applications.

At Northwest Tree Specialists we use proven and unique application methods or organic measures to control your diseases.  We are not like other tree companies that come in and spray modern chemistry on everything to control one problem.  We use direct and controlled trunk applications, injections, deep root feeding and compost tea sprays and drenches to keep your trees healthy.  We firmly believe that keeping a tree or shrub healthy is the best practice. 

Our philosophy and techniques makes your landscape safe for your family, pets and the environment.

At Northwest Tree Specialists we are always striving to become more organic, greener and environmentally friendly.

Have a disease problem?  E-mail Tommy a picture with a brief history to phc@nwtreespecialists.com for a possible online diagnoses.

You can also read more about spring diseases in our newsletter.

Contact us today for a free estimate and consultation from our fully trained sales specialists.