When Disease Strikes: How Trees Become Infected
For a long time, arborists have argued that the way trees live reflects the way humans live. Trees, like people, require nutrition, care, and a balanced diet to avoid contracting a variety of potentially fatal bacterial and viral infections that may be spread by the air or by vectors (wind, birds, insects, and tools).
People should be knowledgeable of the illnesses that might affect their trees.
I'd like to tell you a tale of a tree that was once healthy until it was struck down by a bacterial ailment.
Aspirational Purposes
For both Mac and his insurance company, the Bradford pear had branches that were dangling near the roofline during the spring weekend. In the meanwhile, he decided that he would ask his landscaping firm to cut the pear back from the roofline when they arrived to mow the grass on Monday.
It was Monday, and the landscapers had arrived to begin their weekly service. "No issue," Bobby replied when Mac contacted him about the matter.
An extension ladder, rusted power hedgers, old pole pruners, and a pair of dull loppers appeared in a short period. The roof could be accessed once a few incisions had been made. In appreciation of their efforts, Mac added $40.00 to the bill.
Mac sighed with relief as he figured out the solution.
Was it.
A gradual transition occurred from spring through summer to fall. Mac began preparing for his yearly Halloween scarecrow exhibit as the holiday neared. Ghosts fly down from his chimney to the pear tree that was cut by his landscapers earlier this year. To tie the cable to the tree, Mac went up to his A-frame ladder with the cable in hand and observed what seemed to be burnt branch parts. Closer inspection revealed that they seemed to have been charred by a blow torch.
Mac didn't give it a second thought and shrugged his shoulders. On his way down from the ladder, he looked about and couldn't see any other foliage with a similar appearance on the remainder of the tree. While looking at the pyracantha hedge in front of his house, he also noted that the ends of the branches had a similar charred appearance. At this point, he was befuddled.
Assimilation of an Infectious Disease
What transpired, then?
They had recently cut pyracantha and crab apple infested with Fireblight from another property when Mac's landscapers arrived at his house that spring day.
Despite their best efforts, the germs clung to their pruning equipment. Mac's tree and bushes were infected by the same instruments that exposed them to the bacteria-infected them.
These kinds of incidents occur daily.
Risk Reduction Strategies
So, what can we do to avoid situations like these in the future?
First and foremost, we must be aware of the types of trees and shrubs that exist in our area and the illnesses that they are susceptible to. In today's world of the Internet, finding that information is rather simple.
Keep in mind that if you employ a landscaper to take care of your trees or shrubs, make sure they are knowledgeable about diseases and use sterilized tools. The number of so-called 'professionals,' who know nothing about illnesses, would make you sick to your stomach.
No matter how hard you try, illnesses that are spread by wind, birds, or insects will eventually find their way onto your land. But if you or your expert follow these steps, you may greatly limit the danger of your trees and shrubs becoming infected.
Make sure your tools are clean if it is a virus or viroid
Make sure your instruments are disinfected while dealing with a vascular fungus or bacterium.
Wait to trim oozing cankers that are still active; avoid doing so.
Disinfect your instruments before you begin trimming important plants.
Consider using a disinfecting treatment that has been proven to be successful in previous scientific studies.
A medical practitioner would never use an unsterilized instrument to treat you or your family - why would you treat your trees and property any differently?
Tree Trimming San Antonio
1700 Jackson Keller Rd. #704 San Antonio TX 78213
(210) 985 1760