Tree Identification and Disease Help - Ask Extension
This tree seems to be in trouble and I'd like to help it.
Growing at an angle. Has mold/fungus/something on it and branches are dying.
Gets whit...
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Tree Identification and Disease Help #875119
Asked June 28, 2024, 1:48 PM EDT
This tree seems to be in trouble and I'd like to help it.
Growing at an angle. Has mold/fungus/something on it and branches are dying.
Gets white flowers in spring that develop into bunches of small red berries.
What kind of tree is this, and is there anything I can do to help it?
Many thanks in advance.
Macomb County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
This appears to be a crabapple tree. It is suffering from a fungal disease called apple scab which is why the leaves are yellow. The white crust on the branches is lichen which is not impacting the health of the tree but is there because it has increase sunlight due to the sparse leaf cover. Due to the extreme lean of the tree, I might recommend replacing the tree. Curing the apple scab will take multiple sprayings next spring, and possibly for a few consecutive years, but straightening it out will be another matter. Here is an article about treating apple scab:
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/apple-scab
Here is an article about straightening leaning trees:
https://extension.psu.edu/what-to-do-about-leaning-trees
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
Ruth
This appears to be a crabapple tree. It is suffering from a fungal disease called apple scab which is why the leaves are yellow. The white crust on the branches is lichen which is not impacting the health of the tree but is there because it has increase sunlight due to the sparse leaf cover. Due to the extreme lean of the tree, I might recommend replacing the tree. Curing the apple scab will take multiple sprayings next spring, and possibly for a few consecutive years, but straightening it out will be another matter. Here is an article about treating apple scab:
https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/apple-scab
Here is an article about straightening leaning trees:
https://extension.psu.edu/what-to-do-about-leaning-trees
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
Ruth
