Elm Tree is losing its leaves
#1
08-30-06, 03:08 PM
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Elm Tree is losing its leaves
My 40 year old elm tree is losing its leaves. It has been doing this in August for the last 10 years. Is this normal? Cold it be Dutch elm disease? Any ideas?
#2
08-30-06, 03:48 PM
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The following article may help you: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_ded/ht_ded.htm#symptoms
1. Is there wilting in one or more branches? Did it begin at the crown? Have symptoms progressed downward from crown throughout branches?
2. Do leaves turn pale green to yellow and curl up and become brittle & brown?
3. If you peel off some bark, do you see brownish stains from discoloration of water conducting vessels? Are there any beetle galleries?
Trees infected with Dutch Elm Disease via roots die quickly. Those infected via bark beetles take 1-3 years on the average.
Elm yellows may produce similar symptoms. It also eventually kills the tree due to necrosis of the phloem. The disease is spread by leafhoppers. Trees that manage to hang on will produce stunted leaves and exhibit yellowing and drying up of leaves.
Bacterial leaf scorch begins with yellowing and browning of branches and continues in following years to continue to involve more and more branches until one year the whole tree turns prematurely brown. This bacteria attacks the xylem. There is no cure. Eventually the tree succumbs. It may take anywhere from 3-10 years.
Perhaps a more accurate description of the progress of symptoms in your tree over the past 10 years would be more helpful. Describe progression of symptoms from crown and throughout branches and any die out of branches. Age of tree? Type of elm? Any other events that may have contributed to stress and decline of tree such as soil compaction or root damage?
1. Is there wilting in one or more branches? Did it begin at the crown? Have symptoms progressed downward from crown throughout branches?
2. Do leaves turn pale green to yellow and curl up and become brittle & brown?
3. If you peel off some bark, do you see brownish stains from discoloration of water conducting vessels? Are there any beetle galleries?
Trees infected with Dutch Elm Disease via roots die quickly. Those infected via bark beetles take 1-3 years on the average.
Elm yellows may produce similar symptoms. It also eventually kills the tree due to necrosis of the phloem. The disease is spread by leafhoppers. Trees that manage to hang on will produce stunted leaves and exhibit yellowing and drying up of leaves.
Bacterial leaf scorch begins with yellowing and browning of branches and continues in following years to continue to involve more and more branches until one year the whole tree turns prematurely brown. This bacteria attacks the xylem. There is no cure. Eventually the tree succumbs. It may take anywhere from 3-10 years.
Perhaps a more accurate description of the progress of symptoms in your tree over the past 10 years would be more helpful. Describe progression of symptoms from crown and throughout branches and any die out of branches. Age of tree? Type of elm? Any other events that may have contributed to stress and decline of tree such as soil compaction or root damage?
#3
08-31-06, 03:12 PM
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Im not sure what kind of elm this is. I live in Minnesota and we have lost thousands of elms to disease in the last 30 years. I estimate my elm to be about 40-50 years old. It has been losing its leaves in August for the last 10 years. Leaves turn a dull green then they get brown splotches on them,then they turn a yellowish color, then they turn completely brown and then they fall. The tree will be completely bare in 10 days to 2 weeks. The tree looks great from April to the middle of August. Im not too hopeful for a cure.
#4
08-31-06, 04:25 PM
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If the tree is of sentimental value and a valued member of your landscape, consult with an arborist. At least you will know that you did your best by your old friend.
#5
08-31-06, 05:10 PM
Steven, you can look here to see if you can id what type of elm you have.
American Elm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/ULMAMEA.pdf
Cedar Elm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/ULMCRAA.pdf
Chinese Elm aka Lacebark Elm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/ULMPARA.pdf
'Drake' Chinese Elm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/ULMPARB.pdf
'Dynasty' Chinese Elm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/ULMPARC.pdf
Florida Elm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/ULMAMEB.pdf
Siberian Elm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/ULMPUMA.pdf
Winged Elm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/ULMALAA.pdf
Once we know which elm we might be able to figure out what is going on.
Newt
American Elm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/ULMAMEA.pdf
Cedar Elm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/ULMCRAA.pdf
Chinese Elm aka Lacebark Elm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/ULMPARA.pdf
'Drake' Chinese Elm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/ULMPARB.pdf
'Dynasty' Chinese Elm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/ULMPARC.pdf
Florida Elm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/ULMAMEB.pdf
Siberian Elm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/ULMPUMA.pdf
Winged Elm
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/ULMALAA.pdf
Once we know which elm we might be able to figure out what is going on.
Newt
