mountain ash problem

nkaur

Hi,

Recently a mountain ash tree in my backyard was growing and putting out leaves and flowers, when all of a sudden the leaves stopped growing. They are currently only a quarter of the usual size. The leaves are turning yellow, and then eventually brown at the edges and curlilng up. Some leaves have little brown spots on them The leaves stay on the tree and don't fall down. There isn't any visible damage to the bark and we don't see any sort of insect that could be causing the damage. It looks very sickly right now. The tree has been there for 7 years and is about 9 feet tall. We water it the same amount we have watered it before. What could be wrong?

Sean Freeman

A little more info and some pics nkaur and we'll be able to offer some useful opinions, otherise its just stabbing in the dark mate.

What area are you in, whats the soil like any changes happened around the tree in the last 6/12mths? Whats your weather been like?

TrevMcRev

If 7 years = 9 foot tall it's either growing in a bonsai pot or it definately isnt a Victorian Mountain Ash!

Post up a pic if you can.

Eric Frei

Nah

It'll be a different species all together.

USA have a tree they call mountain ash but it's not our euc.

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Jamie Myers

the uk have a mountain ash (sorbus spp) grows to about 20 feet

HollyS

There are 3 "mountain ash" and most likely more. Euro. Mount ash, Sorbus aucuparia; Greene Mount Ash, Sorbua scopulina; and Sitka Mount ash, Sorbus sitchensis. Around here ash get what we call "ash die off", limbs just die back. But in the US we have all sorts off weather issues right now. In Calif it is so hot and dry our poor blue oaks are already dropping leaves, they usually hold them until Aug. So, yeah more info, and pictures would be helpfull.

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Eric Frei

Hey Holly, now you'll have to get some blue oak pics.

I've never seen a blue oak.

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HollyS

Blue oak also known as: Mountian White oak or Iron oak. Quercus douglasii, very slow growers, drought tolerant, leaves have a blue grey tint to them. Here are a couple of my favorite from my house. Plus a close up of leaves and bark. The green leaves behind the bark picture are a dogwood.

And now I want pictures of your Victoria Mount. Ash (eucalyptus) I've never heard of it.

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nkaur

Hi,

I live in northern BC, Canada (City of Prince George to be exact). I think the soil is fine because the grass and other plants around it are growing quite well. There is even an apple tree 6 or 7 feet away and it is healthy. No major changes occured. We bought it seven years ago (it was about four feet tall) and planted it in the grass in the backyard. We've fertilized the grass and trees once this year. The weather has been the same as the last few years, sunny with occassional thunder storms. The temperature varies but ranges form 5 to 36 degrees celsius in the summer. We did have a harsher winter than usual. I've uploaded some picutres of the leaves. The leaves go from green to yellow to brown and then they curl up. The last two pictures are of its trunk and the ground and the whole tree itself.

Thanks
Nav Kaur

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HollyS

Looks like fireblight.

here is some more info I got from:http://www.ext.nodak.edu/county/cass...s.htm#mountain

Fireblight on Flowering Crabs & Mountain-ash

What causes a rapid browning of the leaves especially on the tips of branches. The brown leaves will hang on the tree and the stem tips will bend over?

A bacterial disease called fireblight which will also cause the infected twigs, stems and branches tol turn almost black in color.

Which plants are infected by fireblight?

Luckily, the only plants which get fireblight are those related to the apple. This includes pears, flowering crabapples, mountain ash and cotoneaster.

What can be done once the trees are infected?

Once a tree has been infected with fireblight we have only two choices. If the disease is spreading rapidly it may be necessary to prune out the diseased areas. You must cut back 8-12" beyond the furthest advance of the disease. Fireblight is very contagious and is easily spread. If the disease has remained in small twigs and doesn't seem to be progressing, we can just watch the infected areas.

Is there any precautions we should take when pruning?

Yes, we need to dip the pruner or saw in a mixture of 10% bleach and 90% water between each cut to prevent spreading the disease when pruning. After using bleach be sure to wash your pruners or saws with water and oil.

Is there any chemical labeled for spraying trees?

No, the spray for fireblight is only for use on apples and pears.

What can be done to prevent fireblight infection?

Painting pruning wounds will help prevent fireblight from getting in. Over fertilize with nitrogen fertilizer and excessively pruning also increases the chances of fireblight infection.

Will fireblight kill the trees?

Yes, it can kill trees if they are susceptible and we don't prune the disease out as it gets into larger branches.

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HollyS

Also, my guess from the bark is it is a Sorbus Aucuparia, Euro Mount Ash, or Rowan.

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Jamie Myers

i agree fireblight cut the infected branch look for black/dark brown staining in the cambium

Eric Frei

Fireblight, what the heck causes that?

Also, first I've seen of those trees, is that tree growing OK, like is that their form, looks like a bunch of antennas sticking out the top????

Our Aussie mountain ash, have a read of this thread and check out the pics. An eye opener for you guys.

Eucs were tallest trees in the world, big wood Aussie logging, world's tallest trees

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Sean Freeman

Fire blight is caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, as yet there is no general agreement as to why this fairly common bacterium should in certain trees develop into a pathogen capable of killing the tree. It is found on the bark of the trees entering into the internal tissues through lenticles and other natural openings as well as injury sites. Epidemics seem to be triggered by temperature, humidity and linked to tree growth stages. It attacks blossoms, new growth shoots and scaffolds. Its also seems to be Rosaceous plants that are most susceptable.

In commercial apple orchards there are a range of control measures used to manage fire blight, not least the planting of resistant species. The use of both copper and sulfur based sprays is common, also a certified antibiotic streptomycin sulfate is also used though the potential negative impacts of using such products I think out weigh any minor benefits.(Bacterial resistance)

I would agree with most of the points outlined as treatment options but would add that having both the soil and foliage assayed by a lab like the Soil Foodweb Inc could be worth it for a tree of significant value to you. The foilar application of a suitable compost teas together with seaweed extracts and organic silica has been shown in individual cases to be wothwhile.

Just remember that the cycle of pathogens like fire blight are connected to the same processes outlined by Shigo and others, excesive fertilisation of trees in impoverished compacted soils, poor pruning practices, inappropriate species selection for the region they're growing in (excessive humidity/irrigation practices) One of the triggers for fire blight does appear to be sudden moisture increases linked to excess soil nitrogen availability.

If you're interested in the Soil Foodweb visit them here and contact them for futher info re your possible fire blight problem http://www.soilfoodweb.com/03_about_us/approach.html

Eric Frei

I honestly dont think I've ever encountered fireblight here.

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TREE-SURFER

http://www.shee-eire.com/Herbs,Trees.../Rowan/rwn.htm
I should have posted this link sooner, but not been on for a while.
Very interesting info.

PS: I named my daughter after this tree.....

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The Aerial Arborist

Isle of Man Tree Surgeon| All Aspects of Tree Work

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Eric Frei

It's a dead link for me

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TREE-SURFER

I am sorry about the link posted earlier. The page seems not to exist anymore. It gave alot of info about the Rowan tree and what it's medicinal properties were and also what the Druids used to use it for, other than tool handles etc.
The berries were boiled for 18hours and strained and washed and then used to cook into a meal. They were also used to make a brew (ekka you'd love that 1 ) but, apparently, no-one seems to know what the recipe was.
I will keep checking to see if it reappears. sorry about that.....

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The Aerial Arborist

Isle of Man Tree Surgeon| All Aspects of Tree Work

What experts say about TOPPING