Why You Need to Protect Your Trees from Bugs and Disease
Posted on: 30 June 2018
If you love native Australian species, then your garden may be full of some marvellous trees and bushes. You may enjoy spending an afternoon sitting beneath the shade, and you want to do everything you can to ensure they stay around for a long time. Yet are you being attentive enough and looking closely at each bush or tree to uncover growing issues? In recent times, there's been an increase in the number of pests and diseases that cause significant problems in your area, and if you're not careful, this can lead to death and destruction in your backyard. What do you need to pay attention to?
Times Are Changing
The eucalyptus tree is a status symbol of Australia, and this native has, up until fairly recently, been very resilient to pests and diseases. Unfortunately, this is changing—and quickly.
Diseases
You should be on the lookout for a fungal growth, especially if the tree already has some damage or is very aged. Cankers can take hold quickly as an infestation of the bark, before moving to the interior. The first sign is yellowing of the leaves, and this should prompt you to take action as soon as possible. If not, the canker can quickly get into the trunk, leading to strangulation, or it could actually split the tree open along its length.
You should also be on the lookout for foot rot and trunk rot, which are different categories of fungi, but nevertheless quite prevalent. Once again, leaves may become discoloured, but you may also notice that the bark itself takes on a darker hue. This is especially true when the rot starts to penetrate from the inside towards the outside.
Insects
Certain insects may also take up home in the eucalyptus. If you notice tiny white lumps, this can indicate the presence of an infestation. If these pests are evident, then the female borer may not be far behind. When they take hold, an extensive network of holes may appear throughout the tree, depriving it of water and causing fatal stress within a short period of time.
Intervention
If you catch any of this early on, you may be able to save the tree by pruning it heavily and getting rid of all wood that appears to be infected. If you don't, then you may have to say goodbye to one or more of these beautiful trees.
Make sure that you bring in a qualified tree removal professional if necessary, and take steps to ensure that the issue does not migrate to other trees in your property.
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