Trees can be affected by a wide array of fungal diseases. One that is quite common is powdery mildew disease. As a homeowner with trees, it's important to be aware of the signs of powdery mildew disease and how to treat it.
What are the signs of powdery mildew disease?
The primary symptom of powdery mildew disease is the appearance of spots on the tree's leaves. These spots are typically irregular in shape and white in color. If you brush against the spot with your finger, it will feel a bit fuzzy and mold-like. Some of it may wipe off onto your finger.
Typically, the lower leaves of the tree will develop spots first, and then the spots will spread to the higher branches.
How do you treat powdery mildew disease?
Powdery mildew disease is pretty tame as far as fungal infections go. It will not kill your tree. However, it will weaken the tree, leaving it more likely to contract a more serious diseases that may very well lead to death. So for this reason, you don't want to ignore powdery mildew disease.
A simple way to treat a powdery mildew infection that's in its early stages is to create a mixture of 40% milk and 60% water. Place this in a spray bottle, and spray it all over the tree, making sure you get it on each leaf. This process will take a while, but it will be worth it in the end when your tree regains its health.
If you're not having luck with the milk method or your tree is just too large for this to be feasible, contact a tree service company. They can come spray your tree with fungicides, which will get rid of the infection.
How can you prevent a healthy tree from getting powdery mildew disease?
Fungi thrive in moist environments, so the key to preventing powdery mildew disease is to keep your tree dry. This is achieved with regular pruning to ensure air can flow freely through the branches. If you ever water your trees, make sure you water the ground around them rather that spraying the water on the branches. This will help keep the tree dry so any fungal spores present don't sprout.
Powdery mildew disease is not an overly serious condition, but it's important to take steps to prevent it and to treat it promptly so your tree does not succumb to another illness.
For more information, contact Destiny's Tree Service LLC or a similar company.
