Beech Leaf Disease - Ask Extension
Hello. I live in Trumbull County, Ohio. We have 6 beech trees with beech leaf disease diagnosed by a certified arborist with a local tree removal com...
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Beech Leaf Disease #894310
Asked March 13, 2025, 12:43 PM EDT
Hello. I live in Trumbull County, Ohio. We have 6 beech trees with beech leaf disease diagnosed by a certified arborist with a local tree removal company called Davey Tree.
We have had two summers of treatment based on Penn State research of this disease. The treatment is costing approximately $750 per summer and an additional annual fertilization of these 6 trees for $350.
I am concerned that, since my neighbors also have beech trees with beech leaf disease that sre NOT being treated in close proximity to mine, that the long term prognosis is not good for my sick trees.
My questions are:
1.Since this winter was more normal with very cold temperatures, will this help kill the nematodes in my trees?
2. Is there any sense in continuing this treatment if my neighbors are not doing any treatment of their trees?
As you can see, I am trying to budget my money for this but I don’t want to be just throwing it away.
Thank you in advance for a response.
Sent from my iPhone
Trumbull County Ohio
Expert Response
Hello and thank you for letting me help you with your BLD question. Unfortunately this winter will not kill all or even most of the nematodes. https://www.brandywine.org/conservancy/blog/beech-leaf-disease-coming-your-way#:~:text=An%20infected%20bud%20can%20have,some%20nematodes%2C%20but%20not%20all.
The PSU fact sheet I read said that you should do 3 years worth of the treatment so that it will greatly reduce the population in the tree. I cannot find anywhere where there is a statement that the tree will be cured or that the treatments are you having a flu shot to give protection. The nematodes are living and lay eggs that overwinter. What I extrapolate from this is: Even if you were able to get rid of all the nematodes in your trees, the trees could pick up the disease again. There is always hope that if you continue treatment, a product may be developed that kills the nematodes completely. However, that product does not exist now. It is your choice how you proceed. Here is the PSU fact sheet. https://extension.psu.edu/guide-to-beech-leaf-disease-for-the-public
The PSU fact sheet I read said that you should do 3 years worth of the treatment so that it will greatly reduce the population in the tree. I cannot find anywhere where there is a statement that the tree will be cured or that the treatments are you having a flu shot to give protection. The nematodes are living and lay eggs that overwinter. What I extrapolate from this is: Even if you were able to get rid of all the nematodes in your trees, the trees could pick up the disease again. There is always hope that if you continue treatment, a product may be developed that kills the nematodes completely. However, that product does not exist now. It is your choice how you proceed. Here is the PSU fact sheet. https://extension.psu.edu/guide-to-beech-leaf-disease-for-the-public
