If a seemingly healthy tree suddenly succumbs to disease, the cause may be lurking in the soil. Phytophthora is a pathogen that lives in the soil and can cause disease in trees as well as other kinds of woody plants and vegetables. Tree disease can be complex, so working with an arborist through your landscaping company is the best way to deal with phytophthora if you think it could be affecting your trees.
What is phytophthora?
At one time, phytophthora was thought to be a fungus, but it has been reclassified as an oomycete. Oomycetes are similar to algae, which is an important clue for arborists who are treating phytophthora. There are several different strains of phytophthora, but they are usually found in the soil of affected plants. Usually, phytophthora thrives in the spring and fall, but it can be found at any time of year. Some strains are more likely to appear in cold weather, while others are more common in warm environments.
What are the symptoms?
The frustrating thing for many tree owners is that there are sometimes few to no symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they are often general, such as yellow leaves, wilting, and dullness. In some cases plants, plants look like they are water stressed. However, in some cases, there are no early symptoms at all before weakness and collapse occurs. If you see any symptoms that could be attributed to phytophthora, contact a licensed arborist as soon as possible.
Can trees infected by phytophthora survive?
Typically, the ability to save the tree depends on how extensive the infection is. To save the tree, your arborist will remove all of the soil around the tree so that the main roots are exposed, so that the roots can dry and the spread of phytophthora is slowed. It is also necessary to remove any bark that looks infected.
Complete Landscaping has certified arborists on staff to keep our customers’ trees healthy at every stage of growth. For more information, call our landscaping company in Tucson at (520) 323-8918.