Quince Rust on Serviceberry - Ask Extension
Last week, we bought two 20" potted Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry trees from a local, nursery in Northfield. We planted them and have been watering d...
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Quince Rust on Serviceberry #399666
Asked May 12, 2017, 8:57 PM EDT
Last week, we bought two 20" potted Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry trees from a local, nursery in Northfield. We planted them and have been watering daily, as directed. Over the past few days, I am noticing lots of black and yellow dots on the trees' leaves. Also, there are some very neon orange spots, that upon closer inspection, look like little neon orange zits. The orange extends through the leaf from the top to the bottom of the leaves. I am very concerned as we have healthy crabapples on our property and we also just placed a large fruit order for apples, pears, plums, peaches, raspberries, and cherry. Also, one of the trees has dark curls at the ends of some of its leaves. Is this a separate disease? What would you advise doing? Treat this? Or, attempt to return the trees and get a refund?
Dakota County Minnesota
Expert Response
Your serviceberry trees are definitely infected. This rust will also spread to your apple trees. Return them for credit or healthy ones. http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/trees-shrubs/cedar-apple-rust-and-gymnosporangium-ru...
Thank you. How should we properly dispose of the diseased trees?
If you only just purchased them, the nursery where you bought them should take them back and either replace them with healthy ones or give you a credit for something else. Either way, they can dispose of them.