May 222012
Anthracnose on maple (Photo by Debbie Johnson)
Fire blight on Bradford pear (Photo by Roger Meissen)
‘Tis the season for tree diseases thanks to cool temperatures and rain. Some are serious, others look worse than they are.
The two main springtime invaders are anthracnose, a fungal disease and fire blight, a bacterial disease. Anthracnose creates black or brown splotches on the leaves and it attacks maples, dogwoods, sycamores and oaks. Fire blight causes severe wilting and die-back on the tips of branches and it often affects pear, quince, apple, crabapple and firethorns.
Today’s guest is Chris Starbuck, horticulture specialist for University of Missouri Extension.
More information on anthracnose.
More information on fire blight.