Service Berry Tree health - Ask Extension
We planted this Service Berry tree three years ago. It is in a flower bed on the south facing lawn so it gets full sun all day. The lower branches h...
Knowledgebase
Service Berry Tree health #878383
Asked July 23, 2024, 9:47 AM EDT
We planted this Service Berry tree three years ago. It is in a flower bed on the south facing lawn so it gets full sun all day. The lower branches have become leafless and appear dead. As of today (7.23) there are no berries on the tree. If there were berries this year it was for a very short period of time. Last year the berries were plentiful but I can't say for how long into the summer. I am attaching photos of damaged leaves in various stages. The last photo is the trunk and branches with what appears to be some type of fungus. Any thoughts as to what the problem might be and how we can bring the health back to this tree?
Franklin County Ohio
Expert Response
Do we know what type of serviceberry this is? Has a soil test been done (as a group, they are sensitive to alkaline soil and tend to be unhealthy)? Have any sprays/pesticides/herbicides been used on or near the plant? What was the first symptom that appeared? Are any other trees in the Rose family (apple, pear, and mountain ash are examples) nearby and are they affected?
Serviceberries are prone to fire blight (which this doesn't appear to be from the pictures) and rusts, which are fungal infections. It is also possible that the berries didn't form because it bloomed during a very hot or windy spell.
I agree that the lesions on the trunk look like fungus. While fungus treatment is usually not too effective after the fact, proper use of a fungicide on new growth may be indicated. Generally, focusing on keeping the tree as healthy as possible with attention to watering, soil type, sun exposure, etc. Serviceberries should be able to handle full sun, but high soil pH (if present) could be a problem. How is the drainage at the site? And hopefully a silly question--was this tree properly planted? Not left in a pot, burlap bag, etc? This has been known to happen, and once the roots get too restricted the tree dies.
Samples of the leaves, twigs, etc could be sent to the C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory at The Ohio State University for definitive diagnosis.
https://ppdc.osu.edu/
I cannot recommend a specific anti-fungal treatment, but if you have further information about any of the questions I brought up please let me know. I may be able to come up with a better recommendation.
The links below are research-supported information sheets about serviceberries in general.
https://portal.ct.gov/caes/plant-pest-handbook/pphs/shadbush-serviceberry-amelanchier
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/serviceberry/
Serviceberries are prone to fire blight (which this doesn't appear to be from the pictures) and rusts, which are fungal infections. It is also possible that the berries didn't form because it bloomed during a very hot or windy spell.
I agree that the lesions on the trunk look like fungus. While fungus treatment is usually not too effective after the fact, proper use of a fungicide on new growth may be indicated. Generally, focusing on keeping the tree as healthy as possible with attention to watering, soil type, sun exposure, etc. Serviceberries should be able to handle full sun, but high soil pH (if present) could be a problem. How is the drainage at the site? And hopefully a silly question--was this tree properly planted? Not left in a pot, burlap bag, etc? This has been known to happen, and once the roots get too restricted the tree dies.
Samples of the leaves, twigs, etc could be sent to the C. Wayne Ellett Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratory at The Ohio State University for definitive diagnosis.
https://ppdc.osu.edu/
I cannot recommend a specific anti-fungal treatment, but if you have further information about any of the questions I brought up please let me know. I may be able to come up with a better recommendation.
The links below are research-supported information sheets about serviceberries in general.
https://portal.ct.gov/caes/plant-pest-handbook/pphs/shadbush-serviceberry-amelanchier
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/serviceberry/
I don’t know the variety. It’s a tree , not a bush. It was purchased from Oakland nursery. We have not done a soil test. No pesticide or other chemicals. It is close to the yard and we do have the yard fertilized. We are having organic fertilizer done for the yard. All the other plants are doing very well.
I don’t have any of the other rose family trees. The tree was planted by Oakland. I also assume it was planted properly but did not supervise the planting
Regarding symptoms. I noticed leafless branches at least in early a June. (Can’t say for sure). I feel that the issue has escalated quickly since the end of June
Thank you
From your photos and timeline description, I am still thinking this is a rust issue. The rust spores can blow in from a distance and be carried by rain, so the (usually a juniper) tree that is the host does not have to be very close at hand. Cedar/apple rust is extremely common; since serviceberries are in the same family as apples they are susceptible. Rusts do not generally do serious harm to a healthy tree. They will fluctuate with the weather and season, often appearing in damper spring weather. They are difficult to control; the best treatment is to make sure the tree is healthy and has all it needs to thrive. As a relatively young tree, your specimen may not have had time to establish itself well.
I asked about the planting because there have been reports of even professionally planted trees (even tree services hire new help) being planted with their roots still constrained. After a while, this of course will kill the tree. If that did happen to be the cause of your tree's stress, you might be able to dig down in one spot near the trunk and go out a foot or so to be sure you don't run into a barrier.
A soil test is not a bad idea. Serviceberries are fairly tolerant of various conditions, but do prefer well drained soil and a lower pH (5.5-7) than some plants. While they tolerate higher pH, they are not happy there and therefore more susceptible to disease.
video about rust and lacebugs on serviceberry
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/rust-diseases-trees/extension.umd.edu/resource/rust-diseases-
response to similar question about serviceberry rust with linkshttps://ask2.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=459813
The links below describe the ideal growing conditions for serviceberries and have pictures of some of the common conditions (including the juniper bloom rust, an apple-cedar rust that affects serviceberries).
https://extension.umn.edu/trees-and-shrubs/serviceberry
https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/serviceberry-in-the-garden
I hope a little attention to pH and drainage, along with a change in weather, will help your tree thrive. It will likely look better next year, especially if we have drier conditions.
I asked about the planting because there have been reports of even professionally planted trees (even tree services hire new help) being planted with their roots still constrained. After a while, this of course will kill the tree. If that did happen to be the cause of your tree's stress, you might be able to dig down in one spot near the trunk and go out a foot or so to be sure you don't run into a barrier.
A soil test is not a bad idea. Serviceberries are fairly tolerant of various conditions, but do prefer well drained soil and a lower pH (5.5-7) than some plants. While they tolerate higher pH, they are not happy there and therefore more susceptible to disease.
video about rust and lacebugs on serviceberry
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/rust-diseases-trees/extension.umd.edu/resource/rust-diseases-
response to similar question about serviceberry rust with linkshttps://ask2.extension.org/kb/faq.php?id=459813
The links below describe the ideal growing conditions for serviceberries and have pictures of some of the common conditions (including the juniper bloom rust, an apple-cedar rust that affects serviceberries).
https://extension.umn.edu/trees-and-shrubs/serviceberry
https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/serviceberry-in-the-garden
I hope a little attention to pH and drainage, along with a change in weather, will help your tree thrive. It will likely look better next year, especially if we have drier conditions.
