Tri-Color Beech Tree Trunk Diseased - Ask Extension
Hello, I have a Tri-Colored Beech tree with a diseased trunk. It has a ring around the bottom, but the canopy and leaves appear healthy. It started la...
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Tri-Color Beech Tree Trunk Diseased #807516
Asked August 22, 2022, 4:15 PM EDT
Hello, I have a Tri-Colored Beech tree with a diseased trunk. It has a ring around the bottom, but the canopy and leaves appear healthy. It started last year, I treated it six times with a fungicide. Last year it produced nuts for the first time, I believe it is distressed. The tree is very important to me and my family. I've attached some photos.
Oakland County Michigan
Expert Response
Hi Lawrence,
The tree may be suffering from bleeding canker. Fungicides can help; the article below outlines the active ingredients that should be in the fungicide used and an additive to help the fungicide penetrate the bark
https://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=425
Nut production is a sign of stress. The full canopy is a good sign. However, cankers usually progress through the living tissue in the trunk; I recommend treating it again this year with the products recommended in the article above. Always read and follow label directions for the product you choose.
The article at the link below does a good job of thoroughly describing the pathogen:
https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/phytophthora-bleeding-canker
Lastly, if you have a sprinkler system, be sure it is not watering the trunk of the tree as this will cause spores to re-infect the tree.
I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions that arise.
Thank you,
-Julie
The tree may be suffering from bleeding canker. Fungicides can help; the article below outlines the active ingredients that should be in the fungicide used and an additive to help the fungicide penetrate the bark
https://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/article.php?id=425
Nut production is a sign of stress. The full canopy is a good sign. However, cankers usually progress through the living tissue in the trunk; I recommend treating it again this year with the products recommended in the article above. Always read and follow label directions for the product you choose.
The article at the link below does a good job of thoroughly describing the pathogen:
https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/phytophthora-bleeding-canker
Lastly, if you have a sprinkler system, be sure it is not watering the trunk of the tree as this will cause spores to re-infect the tree.
I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions that arise.
Thank you,
-Julie
