Knowledgebase
Have not heard from you about my tree disease #764554
Asked July 29, 2021, 9:52 AM EDT
Delta County Michigan
Expert Response
Sorry Carol, I checked our queue for this year and this question is the first one we have received from you. Your original question must not have gotten into the queue for some reason.
Please add 2 pictures of the problem here by clicking on “choose them” below the response box.
1- A picture of the whole tree so we can see any discoloration or pattern in the crown, damage on the branch or trunk.
2- A picture of 6-7 fallen leaves on a plain piece of paper, some turned so the are face down, so we can see the fronts and the backs of the leaves.
Also, tell us about how long the tree has been there.
Other information, such as construction or digging that has been done near the tree, any chemicals applied around the lawn or sprayed nearby, etc?
Finally, are the leaves falling one at a time, or are they in little groups still attached to a twig?
This kind of info will help me assist you. I will watch for your update here. Thank you.
Hello Carol,
Thank you for the pictures. This does appear to be an elm tree. Unfortunately if this has happened in one or two seasons it is likely dutch elm disease( DED) has killed the tree.
However, the only way to diagnose DED is through an arborist visit, or sending branch samples of a specific size to a lab. Since the tree is so tall with no lower branches, pruning off the necessary branches to send to the lab is too difficult.
Diagnosing other diseases or pests would require a certified arborist visit, too.
There are ways to protect the elm tree that is still near your house from DED, and the neighbor’s elm tree if it is not yet severely affected.
I recommend you hire a certified arborist, a professional who has taken training in care, diseases, pests and passed certification tests. He/she will come on site and give a complete diagnosis and a plant care plan for your trees, including an assessment of the dead tree. . Find certified arborists by zip code here—-
These references describe how dutch elm disease is managed:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/dutch_elm_disease
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/dutch-elm-disease
If you plan to replace the tree there are American elm hybrids that have been bred to resist dutch elm disease, and would be well worth planting.
https://extension.umn.edu/trees-and-shrubs/dutch-elm-disease-resistant-elm-trees
I’m sorry this isn’t better news.