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Sad Tree.... #874006

Asked June 20, 2024, 8:32 PM EDT

Hello! I have a tree (sorry, not sure of the kind) that has always been beautiful (I have been in my house for 9 years). This year after its spring bloom it started to decline. It is losing leaves and the leaves that are present have spots all over them. See attached pictures (1 from this spring and 2 from today). I love this tree and want to save it! Please help!! :-) Thank you!!!

Dakota County Minnesota

Expert Response

Hello, happy to help.

Sorry for the delay in answering your question.

I think your tree is a crabapple given the timing of the blooms in the photograph. Because of the cool wet spring we've had  with so much rain, a lot of apple related trees have come down with apple scab, a fungal disease that overwinters on the ground. It's spores then splashes up into the trees during the next spring's rains. Your tree should be able to survive this onslaught but successive years of it can stress the tree. This is why we recommend the following steps to take. to avoid this next year.

You've probably seen more leaves spot up, turn yellow then brown, and finally drop off since sending your question. All the fallen leaves carry the fungal spores that will survive through the winter. So the best approach is to clean up all the leaves that have fallen. Also all the scabby fruit that falls as well for the same reason as the leaves. Burn, bury, or hot compost the collected debris. If your compost doesn't get hot enough to kill weed seeds, then send the material to your city's composter. Finally, clean up all the leaves in autumn as well.

Here is more information about apple scab that may be of help to you including an alternate method for handling the leaves on the ground in autumn.

Good-luck!

eGardener Replied July 03, 2024, 1:16 PM EDT

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