18 April 2018
 Categories: , Blog

If you want to improve the appeal and value of your home, planting trees is a great place to start. As a matter of fact, healthy mature trees can add between $1,000 and $10,000 of value to your home. Therefore, proper maintenance is key to protecting the look of your trees and landscape design. Unfortunately, root rot is a common disease that can quickly harm and even kill your tree and nearby plants. With this guide, you will understand the signs of root rot and learn how to prevent this deadly disease from harming your trees.

Signs of Root Rot

In many cases, the signs of root rot disease mimic the signs of a pest infestation. However, treating root rot disease requires a different treatment from treating a pest infestation. If you are noticing the following, your tree is most likely infected by root rot:

• Gradual decline of foliage
• Stunted growth
• Wilting, browning, or yellowing leaves
• Thinning of tree's canopy
• Dieback of branches

Again, the above signs are similar to what you would see if your tree is under attack by pests. To know if the tree is infected with root rot, inspect the inner portions of the bark on your tree.

If you notice patches of fungus or the development of cankers in the inner portions of the bark that seems to be growing up from the roots, the tree is infected with root rot disease.

Treatment and Prevention

Trees that are infected with root rot must be treated immediately. To get started, trim off discolored, decaying foliage, flowers, and branches. Make sure to use alcohol to clean the blades of your pruning shears before using on other plants and trees. This will prevent the fungus from spreading to other plants.

Apply a fungicide to the entire tree, as well. This will kill any fungal growth before it spreads through the entire tree. If large portions of your tree have died due to the fungal growth, removing the tree may be necessary to prevent the spreading of the disease through the root system.

Trees must be planted in an area with well-drained soil. This reduces high moisture content that can lead to fungal growth. Also, prune your tree periodically, removing limbs and branches that are connecting and tangling with one another. This improves air circulation through your tree, reducing the risk of fungal growth.

Root rot is a serious disease that can wreak havoc on your landscape design. This guide will help you understand the signs while learning the best techniques to treat and prevent this disease. Contact a company like Complete Tree Service LLC for more information and assistance.