Help identifying a tree under attack

kamduke

Living in Central Wisconsin, USA. We have a tree under attack (see attached pics) in our back yard but we don't know what kind of tree it is or what, if anything can be done to fight back. Hoping someone here could provide their knowledgable insights. Thank you -- Jack

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Muggs

You have a Hackberry - Celtis occidentalis. It is in the same family as Elm but it is resistant to Dutch Elm disease. It has a very distinctive bark that is hard to confuse with any other type of tree.

The large bumps/growths on the leaves are leaf nipple gall or Hackberry gall. They are caused by a tiny insect called a mite which tries to feed on the leaves and the bump is the tree's reaction to the mite. This is a very common issue with Hackberry but it is not serious, as it affects only the foliage. The leaves are still able to produce plenty of sugars for the tree.

I would say the same thing about the small holes in the leaves, they are nothing to worry about. They are usually caused by caterpillars and they are only a problem if the entire leaf is destroyed, but a few holes here and there won't adversely affect the health of your tree. Overall I wouldn't be worried about your Hackberry, it looks just fine.