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Concerning disease or pest our large backyard tree gets every summer #761179

Asked July 11, 2021, 8:22 PM EDT

Every early summer (early June) one of our large backyard trees (unsure of what type of tree it is) gets some kind of disease or pest that starts browning and killing off the leaves and some branches.  It is the only tree of its kind in the backyard.  Other trees are walnuts, maples, and lilacs and maybe one or two other kinds--all look healthy.  By the end of the summer the tree looks leafless and dead, but the next spring it leafs out and does the whole thing over again.  In addition to a photo of a sick branch I have included a photo of the bark and healthier leaves for help with tree identification purposes.  I have more pictures but unable to download too many on this program.

Emmet County Michigan

Expert Response

Hello,

Please send pictures of the entire tree and the diseased leaves--with the brown spots. Does this tree flower in the spring and have berries or fruit.

Thank you.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 12, 2021, 11:07 AM EDT
Hello,
Sorry for the delay in response to your email above asking for more photos.  I have included a photo of the tree plus others.  
To refresh, this is concerning the tree in our backyard in Petoskey, Michigan.  It leafs out in spring, year after year after year. Yet by the beginning of summer all the leaves start dying and start falling off.  Toward the mid summer it looks very unhealthy and by the end of summer most of the leaves are gone.  You will see some of the branches that are completely bare in the photos,  You ask if it has fruit-- it does have small fruit/berries.  
Please feel free to call or email for more information.
Thank you,
Cathy Degnan
<personal data hidden>

On Mon, Jul 12, 2021 at 11:07 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied July 22, 2021, 9:28 PM EDT

Hello,

I believe the tree in the picture is a crabapple. Some apples and crabapples are susceptible to many diseases and insect attacks including: cedar apple rust, fireblight, apple scab, canker, scale, borer and others. Cedar apple rust occurs on leaves in April-May as yellow leaf spots which enlarge and result in heavy leaf drop. Read more about the diseases here: https://extension.psu.edu/crabapple-diseases

There are some crabapple trees that are resistant to the diseases but older trees may be susceptible.

Fungal treatments are available. Read more about treatment here: https://williamshane.weebly.com/apple.html

Of course, it is difficult to diagnose a problem from a picture. You can submit a sample of the tree to the MSU Extension’s Plant and Pest Diagnostic Lab for an analysis. To learn how to submit a sample go to:

https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/

You can also contact a certified arborist to assess the tree. Go to: www.treesaregood.org, the website of the International Society of Arboriculture to find an arborist in your area.

Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 26, 2021, 12:32 PM EDT

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