Top 3 Louisiana Tree Problems & What to Do About Them
There are a wealth of problems that can happen with our trees in Louisiana. If it’s not a storm, then it’s the construction going on next door, or some new bug or fungus making its home inside the trunks or leaves. It can be difficult to know what to do or how to care for the trees in our yards when these problems come up. That’s why we at Lafayette Tree Co created this blog post to help you identify common problems and get your trees looking strong and healthy.
Top Tree Problems
Problem #1: Bacterial Infections
A very common bacterial infection in Louisiana trees is bacterial leaf scorch.
Once your tree has this infection, it’s very difficult to treat as there is no known cure. The most commonly infected trees are elms, sycamores, maples, and several species of oak. The best thing you can do to save your tree once you realize it has bacterial leaf scorch is to prune the affected leaves and to fertilize the tree. If this doesn’t help, you should contact an arborist or a tree specialist to try mulching, irrigating, or giving the tree antibiotic injections. If you’re not sure if your tree is infected, look for the following signs: browning of the interior leaves, this browning will then progress down the branch outwards, scorched areas may also have a yellow halo around them.
Problem #2: Human Error
Due to the many storms that we have in Louisiana, it’s common to trim back any long or dangerous looking branches to protect our houses and our vehicles. However, over-trimming trees can have the exact opposite effect. If you trim a limb too far back, it can cause stress on the remaining limbs making them weaker and more likely to break off in a heavy ice storm or a strong wind. Follow these tree trimming tips to ensure your property’s safety in the next storm:
- Eliminate lopsided crowns to maintain a stable center of gravity
- Remove problem branches before they are one inch in diameter
- Prune to encourage good branch angles (the strongest angles are 10 and 2 o’clock)
- Don’t cut branches to stubs, the new branches will be quickly attached and likely to break
#3: Pests
The final problem comes in the form of pesky insects. Many of these pests, while unsightly, don’t harm the tree itself. Tent worms and fall webworms are frequent pests that create cocoons and webs in ash, willow, and maple trees. The best way to get rid of these pests is to pick out the egg casings by hand. Another effective method is creating a favorable environment for birds, who love to snack on tent worms. A more serious pest problem comes in the form of galls. Galls are small tumor-like protrusions on the leaves and twigs of oak trees. These galls form when small insects lay their eggs on the leaves. The mix of the insect’s chemicals and the trees hormones create these unsightly tumors. To prevent them from forming you can use miticides, horticultural oils, and insecticides. Once the galls have formed, you’ll need to prune the affected areas and burn them.
In Conclusion: Choose Lafayette Tree Co!
Tree care can often feel overwhelming. It’s hard to know how to protect your home and your yard at the same time. That’s why we recommend hiring a professional tree care company like Lafayette Tree Co. We’re a proud local company with years of experience serving the Lafayette community. Our certified arborists know exactly how to diagnose, treat, and strengthen Lousiana’s trees. Call us now at (337) 573-2063 for a free consultation!