Grounds Services, Inc. | Turf, Tree & Shrub Management System: Tree & Shrub: Rust

Tree and Shrub: Rust

Tree and Shrub Disease

oak wilt Rust can appear in many forms when it affects trees and shrubs, from trunk splitting galls to orange leaf discoloration. Depending on what plant is infected with this fungus will determine the visual symptoms that will be seen.

Conifers will often produce galls, swelling of stems (canker), branch or twig dieback, or witches broom (a cluster of shoots growing from one central location on the plant giving the appearance of a broom or birds nest). Decisuous trees will usually exhibit an orange residue on the leaf or fruit of the plant with swelling and distortion. Some of the funguses that produce rust need two host to complete it's cycle.

Cedar-Apple Rust Requires Two Host: Juniper and Rose-family trees (such as crabapples) Look for: Juniper: Swelling of twigs and branches with orange gall-like growth. Rose-family: small yellow or orange lesions on leaves which will mature to produce spores.
Eastern Pine Gall Rust Requires Two Host: Oak and Pine (2 & 3 needle) Look for: Pines: galls on branches or truncks which may girdle branches causing dieback. Oaks: small brown lesions with yellow borders on the surface of the leaf with small raised structures on the underside of the leaf.
Western Gall Rust Requires one host: Pine (2 & 3 needle) Look for: Galls on branches or truncks which may girdle branches causing dieback.
White Pine Blister Rust Requires Two Host: Pine and Ribes Plants Look for: Pines: Early stages, yellow or red spots on needles followed by swelling of the infected branch. Later, the swelling branch will develop a canker which may girdle the branch. Ribes: Fungus forms on the leaf usually going unnoticed. look for small yellow lesions.

Disease Development Favored by:

Moist areas

Corrective Measures:

Prune out gall infected branches
Remove lower branches to aid air circulation

Spores on underside of Oak leaf

Rust on pine needles

If you believe your trees or shrubs have been affected with disease or fungus activity, call Grounds Services today for a no-obligations visit at 419-536-4344.