Introduction
In the northern areas of the United States, the arborvitae trees have occupied large spaces as it has the characteristics, which tend to survive in cold parts of the country. The tree is a member of the cypress trees family and is very popular for producing soft as well as richly green needles foliage, which eventually evolves into a dense canopy. The tree grows out quite vigorously under moist, as well as well-drained environment of the soil and tends to become a shade from the sunlight in summer days. The arborvitae trees are also susceptible to certain diseases, which are termed as arborvitae diseases, but can be harmless to them if treated early. Below mentioned are the five arborvitae diseases along with their symptoms and causes.
History
Cypress Canker
These arborvitae diseases mostly emerge in the rainy season. The disease produces fungus, which is traveled within the tree through the rain water pours thereby, creating an infection in the bark of the tree and kills the defensive tissues of the arborvitae by germinating them. As a result, the foliage will start developing yellow color and will eventually fade out. Moreover, the cankers enter into arborvitae with a flow of resin. The cure of this arborvitae diseases are not quite effective and is based on chemical treatments, however, they may be considered as a good preventive measure against cypress canker arborvitae diseases. The only effective cure is to prune out the infected areas by a sharp and sterilized pruning shears through which the process of spreading of the fungus is eliminated.
Features
Botrytis Blight
These arborvitae diseases also appear in the cool and rainy season of spring. The characteristic of this fungal disease is that it tends to rest on the dead tissues of the tree and in the rainy season, this fungus is transferred to the healthy parts of the trees through rain water. This transferring of blight causes the needles of the arborvitae tree to get wilt and browned up. The damaged needles eventually develop a mold, which is grey in color and can be removed as dust is distracted. The cure to these arborvitae diseases includes several fungicidal applications accompanied with adequate pruning of the tree.
Tips and comments
Phomopsis Blight
In these arborvitae diseases, the tips of the tree change its color into ash-gray or brown, which is an indication that they are dead. This remains on the shrubs for a long time, which in return creates fungal diseases for the tree. When the dead tissue comes in contact with the living tissue, there forms a pimple-like black fungus. The cure to this disease is prune the dead branches and twigs from the tree so as to save the other living tissues.
Pestalotiopsis Blight
In this arborvitae diseases, the twigs of the tree tends to change color from tanned to a brownish color and there emerges small pimple-like black colored fruiting structures which covers the entire surface. The major preventive measure of these diseases is to protect the tree from drought, injury or any other stress condition. You can also apply copper so as to protect the foliage of the tree.
Branch let
The branches that are very old in the tree, in the arborvitae diseases, tend to get brown in color and fells off from the tree. Although, this situation is not that of a disease and is many a times considered as a normal part of the development process of the plant.
