Does Your Tree Have Root Rot?

Posted on: 15 June 2015

There are hundreds of species of fungi that can infect trees. Some of these species have the ability to proliferate within the trees lower stem and roots, causing a condition known as root rot. They invade the wood in these areas and slowly compromise the tree's ability to obtain water and transport it to the smaller branches. If your tree is looking a bit worse for wear, examine it more closely for the following signs of root rot, and then have the tree removed properly if you do confirm root rot is to blame.

Symptoms of Root Rot

The first signs of root rot are pretty vague. Your tree may begin to experience slower growth. It may develop fewer leaves than normal, and the top of the tree may become more and more bare. As the disease progresses, you'll start to notice more distinct symptoms in the lower stem. Bark that is sloughing off, the appearance of dark brown or black cankers, and the growth of large bracket fungi near the place where the tree meets the ground all indicate root rot.

One particular type of root rot, known as Armillaria root rot, occurs mostly in conifers. Trees infected with this fungus may show few outward symptoms until the disease is very far along. However, they often produce a "stress crop," which is a very heavy production of cones, in the season before extensive dieback becomes obvious. If you have a conifer that is releasing exorbitant numbers of cones, you should suspect Armillaria root rot.

Dealing With Root Rot

There is no way to treat root rot, since it is impossible to access the heartwood in the tree's stem and effectively eradicate the fungi. Thus, you should contact a tree care expert to confirm the diagnosis before you begin dealing with the root rot. On the off chance you are mistaken and the tree has a less severe condition, taking the time to contact an expert could save the tree.

If your tree is confirmed to have root rot, you'll need to have it removed. It's best to do this sooner rather than later, in order to minimize the spread of the infection to other nearby trees. Contact a professional tree-removal service, like Kansas City Tree Care, LLC, to do the job. After the tree is removed, all wood that shows signs of decay should be burned. If wood further up the tree is in good condition, it can be salvaged and used. The stump should be burned, since it contains fungi that can be passed on to other trees.

When a tree starts to die back or lose leaves, there are many possible explanations; root rot is just one. However, if you start to notice symptoms on the lower stem of the tree, that's when you should be particularly concerned about this condition.

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