Common Tree Ailments in Minnesota

Like humans, trees are subject to several diseases and pests that can cause significant problems for their health. Knowing how to spot them and nip the problem in the bud is essential before they kill your tree or spread to others!

Has a disease infested your trees? Contact our tree removal team in the Twin Cities area at (763) 568-3007. If you’re closer to the Brainerd Lakes area, call (800) 630-2960. Either way, you can send a contact form straight to our email.

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Common Tree Diseases in Minnesota

Oak Wilt

Minnesota’s rich forest ecology means that our state is home to many species of trees, including many species in the Oak family. Oak Wilt is a deadly disease that can affect any oak variety. It is caused by an invasive fungus that chokes off the water vessels of oak trees and can kill some varietals, like the red oak, in as little as two months. It spreads from tree to tree through some types of beetles and roots that have grown together underground.

The number one sign of oak wilt is excessive leaf loss in mid-summer. You may also see cracks in the bark from fungal pads that are forming underneath. If you see the signs of oak wilt, it’s essential to call a professional like Wilderness Land Clearing to confirm and take action before the disease spreads to other trees.

Diplodia

Unlike oak wilt, which affects leafy deciduous oak trees, this second disease affects several coniferous pine tree species. Specifically, it is often found in trees that produce needles in clusters of two or three, such as the red pine and the jack pine. Diplodia causes shoot blight (dead branch tips), branch death, decreased growth, and sometimes death to these trees. Diplodia is caused by a fungus that produces spores that insects, animals, rain, and wind spread. It is easiest to identify by looking for the distinct orange of dead needles at the end of pine branches and can be very deadly for young trees growing near diseased older trees.

Common Tree Pests in Minnesota

Eastern Larch Beetle

The Eastern Larch beetle is a native beetle species that infests tamarack trees. Rising temperatures have lengthened the beetle’s growing season and reproduction rate. This has caused what used to be localized, limited-time outbreaks to expand into 23 consecutive years of the insect, causing damage across more than 1 million acres in Minnesota. Yellowing tamarack foliage in mid-to-late summer and a reddish appearance to the trunks are signs of Eastern Larch beetle infestation.

Emerald Ash Borer

The Emerald Ash Borer is currently public enemy number one for Minnesota’s trees. These invasive small, green insects have killed millions of ash trees across the eastern half of the United States. Ash trees generally die within 1 to 3 years of infestation symptoms appearing. If you have ash trees with thinning crowns, sprouts growing from the trunk close to the ground, or frequent woodpecker visits, it is essential to call an expert tree removal team like Wilderness Land Clearing as soon as possible to help prevent the spread of this deadly pest.

Pine Bark Beetles

Pine bark beetles are Minnesota’s glorious pines’ most damaging beetle species. These native beetles can quickly kill upper branches on pine trees and, eventually, entire trees. Trees stressed by drought or damage are the most at-risk, while healthy pines are relatively safe against their attacks. You can identify bark beetles by the small, round exit holes they make in the bark.

Call Wilderness Land Clearing

Has EAB infested your ash trees? Contact our tree removal team in the Twin Cities area at (763) 568-3007. If you’re closer to the Brainerd Lakes area, call (800) 630-2960. Either way, you can send a contact form straight to our email.

Request Tree Removal