This section provides educational materials to aid you in caring for common tree diseases known to Birchwood Village. If you have received a notice from the City Tree Inspector regarding having a diseased tree, please click on the related link below.
Dutch Elm Disease
“At one time, the American elm was considered to be an ideal street tree because it was graceful, long-lived, fast growing, and tolerant of compacted soils and air pollution. Then Dutch Elm Disease (DED) was introduced and began devastating the elm population. Estimates of DED losses of elm in communities and woodlands across the U.S. are staggering. Because elm is so well-suited to urban environments, it continues to be a valued component of the urban forest despite the losses from DED. The challenge before us is to reduce the loss of remaining elms and to choose suitable replacement trees for the ones we cannot save.” – How to Identify and Manage Dutch Elm Disease (attached guide below).
Emerald Ash Borer
“The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is a very destructive insect pest of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.), the only known hosts of this borer in North America. This exotic borer is a native of Asia with its natural range including China, Japan, Mongolia, Korea, the Russian Far East and Taiwan.
It was first discovered in North America in southeast Michigan in June, 2002, although it was likely introduced as much as 10 years earlier. It was first found in Minnesota in May 2009, in St. Paul. EAB has also been found in many other U.S. states. It has also been discovered in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.” – Emeral Ash Borer in Minnesota (attached guide below)
Bur Oak Blight
“A serious leaf blight disease on bur oak has been recognized in several Midwestern States since the 1990s with Iowa reporting its first occurrence of this disease 6 or 7 years ago. A common leaf spot fungus, Tubakia dryina, was initially thought to be the cause of the blight on bur oak, but closer examination revealed a different story. Researchers in Iowa confirmed that this disease is caused by a new, and yet unnamed, species of Tubakia. The disease was named bur oak blight, or BOB for short.
There are now five known species of Tubakia that can infect bur oak in Iowa, but only one species causes dramatic leaf symptoms and tree mortality characteristic of BOB.” – Pest Alert: Bur Oak Blight (attached guide below)
Oak Wilt Disease
“Oak wilt, caused by the non-native fungus Ceratocystis fagacearum, is responsible for killing large numbers of oaks annually in Minnesota. Oaks are a valuable and abundant shade and forest tree in the state. Oak wilt is most severe in red oak group species such as northern red oak and northern pin oak. Fortunately, this valuable resource can be protected by utilizing effective management techniques.
Oak wilt occurs in 24 states in the eastern United States and is not known to occur elsewhere. In Minnesota, the disease is currently found in an area bounded on the north by Pine County, on the west by Stearns and Nicollet counties, and south to the Iowa border. The greatest concentrations of oak wilt are found in Sherburne, Anoka, Isanti and northwestern Dakota counties.” – Oak Wilt in Minnesota (attached guide below)