Tri-Colored Beech Tree - Ask Extension
Our Tri-Colored Beerch tree was planted in 2012. We haven't had any issues with until this spring season. Leaf buds are not opening like they've d...
Knowledgebase
Tri-Colored Beech Tree #633361
Asked May 09, 2020, 12:22 PM EDT
Our Tri-Colored Beerch tree was planted in 2012. We haven't had any issues with until this spring season. Leaf buds are not opening like they've done in past seasons. The old leaves haven't dropped either.
Any idea why the leaves aren't opening? Do you know what is on the trunk?
Any idea why the leaves aren't opening? Do you know what is on the trunk?
Kalamazoo County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
Sadly, it looks as though your tree has a heavy infestation of the scale that is the first step of birch bark disease. The scale insects suck the sap from the tree and allow for the second step of the infection to occur. This is the infestation by the a fungal pathogen which kills the tree. If caught early, scrubbing the trunk of the tree with brushes and water to remove the scale and appropriately timed insecticides to kill the scale can be effective at preventing the disease. However, this has to be done yearly because unfortunately, beech bark disease is spreading quickly across the state. I am attaching an article about beech bark disease so you can see what the tell-tale orange colored fruiting bodies of the Nectria fungus look like. If you see some of those on the trunk, the tree will certainly die, or already be dead. If you do not see those, you may want to try removing the scale from the trunk and wait to see if the tree leafs out this year. Crawlers- the stage of the beech scale that is vulnerable to pesticides, are active in late summer, so that is when treatment for those would begin. If the tree is alive and you want to try to save it, you may want to call an ISA certified arborist for help with timing and products to use. Go to treesaregood.org to find an ISA certified arborist in your area. See the following article for more information: https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/files/e2746.pdf
I hope this is helpful.
Sadly, it looks as though your tree has a heavy infestation of the scale that is the first step of birch bark disease. The scale insects suck the sap from the tree and allow for the second step of the infection to occur. This is the infestation by the a fungal pathogen which kills the tree. If caught early, scrubbing the trunk of the tree with brushes and water to remove the scale and appropriately timed insecticides to kill the scale can be effective at preventing the disease. However, this has to be done yearly because unfortunately, beech bark disease is spreading quickly across the state. I am attaching an article about beech bark disease so you can see what the tell-tale orange colored fruiting bodies of the Nectria fungus look like. If you see some of those on the trunk, the tree will certainly die, or already be dead. If you do not see those, you may want to try removing the scale from the trunk and wait to see if the tree leafs out this year. Crawlers- the stage of the beech scale that is vulnerable to pesticides, are active in late summer, so that is when treatment for those would begin. If the tree is alive and you want to try to save it, you may want to call an ISA certified arborist for help with timing and products to use. Go to treesaregood.org to find an ISA certified arborist in your area. See the following article for more information: https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/files/e2746.pdf
I hope this is helpful.
