Diseased Copper Beech?

becsbud

Hi there,

We have a copper beech in our garden, approx. 90 years old. This spring, after a very cold, snowy winter, the leaves opened later than usual with tiny pin-prick holes in them.

Now the leaves are fully open, many are brown and dried at the edges. Is this a known disease? It is under a TPO and I would need permission before any treatment. Would a normal tree surgeon know what to do? Or do I need someone who specialises in diseases?

Sorry for all the questions; I know very little about trees.

Thanks in advance.

Brent Ferris

Could we have some pictures of the leaves - closeups if possible? How much snow, and how cold was it relative to "normal" years?

becsbud

Thanks for your reply, Treeshaveneeds.

I have attached photographs of the leaves (at least, I hope I have!).

Last winter was the coldest UK winter for 30 years. The mean temperature was 1.5C, compared to the usual winter average of 3.7C. There was also heavy snowfall for a sustained period (we usually only get a couple of days of snow here and there throughout the whole winter).

Brent Ferris

Did you have some cold nights -- frosty -- while the leaves were opening? THe tips look slightly necrotic (tissue at edges dying) - as can be typical with frost while the leaves open, or drought later on in the season. Beech buds usually flush after all danger of frost has passed, but this year (at least in Ontario) has not been a normal year, Our June has been more like May, and May like June. And if your climate has done a similar flip-flop, some of the tender leaves may have received damage while opening. Damage could be for other reasons.
THe pin prick holes will be insect damage, usually a caterpillar that typically feeds at night.
Another member can probably shed light on the probable species.

becsbud

Thanks, Trees. That makes a lot of sense. We have had several late frosts this year, and both April and May were uncharacteristically cold.

Also, I have had another look at the leaves, and have spotted several small bright green-yellow insects, similar to an aphid/greenfly. So, as you say, they could be responsible for the holes, whereas the leaf damage is due to the weather.

This all puts my mind at rest a little - I was getting awfully worried about my lovely tree! Surely the insects will move on eventually or die off? I am assuming that it would take a hell of a plague to fell a tree of this size?

Thanks for your help.

Brent Ferris

The possibility for a plague is there, but with the cold nights -- the insects that are hatching and trying to get their own lives going, will also suffer from the cold, and the possibility of a plague this year is probably very small.

Rest easy for now.

becsbud

Thanks, you've calmed my marauding fears!