Knowledgebase
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.
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.