elm tree - why are the leaves yellowing? (bandwidth warning)
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elm tree - why are the leaves yellowing? (bandwidth warning)
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08-25-2008, 05:07 AM
This tree was planted about two years ago as a sapling. It looks like its doing fine but the leaves have a problem. the edge of the leaves yellow and die.
any ideas on what is causing this and what i can do about it?  
08-25-2008, 05:13 AM
Bacterial leaf scorch.
Excellent article: http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:jJTQ...ound+edges&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us&client=firefox-a
08-25-2008, 06:47 AM
Where the heck did you pull that one from, BL! It says in the article that other environmental conditions can cause leaf scorch (excess salt, drought, root damage), so maybe it isn't bacterial. For some reason, I'd rather it not be bacterial ;-). We used to have a lot of elms here, but almost all are gone from dutch elm disease. Other types of trees are apparently favored now, at least here. kj.
08-25-2008, 07:22 AM
A newly planted tree should be watered regularly for at least the first two years otherwise they do dry out and the leaves get those edge scorching marks.
Dutch Elm disease doesn't effect the tree until it is more than just a sapling. A young elm has smooth bark on the main stem but as it gets older the bark starts to look more 'bark like' with wrinkles and splits and it's at that point that the beetle can get under it and the fungal disease it carries can then get into the tree. Over here the change is about when the tree gets to between 15 and 20 feet high.
08-25-2008, 01:02 PM
I don't think its bacterial leaf scorch as the pattern of leaf decay is different.
it could just be under watering - although i thought i was watering pretty thoroughly. this winter the tree is going to get some heavy trimming to maintain the central trunk. perhaps a better root-branch ratio will help prevent this next year.
08-25-2008, 01:15 PM
[quote mattkime]I don't think its bacterial leaf scorch as the pattern of leaf decay is different.
it could just be under watering - although i thought i was watering pretty thoroughly. this winter the tree is going to get some heavy trimming to maintain the central trunk. perhaps a better root-branch ratio will help prevent this next year. You water your tree? You could be spoiling it, and discouraging root growth, causing it to not be able to handle a dry week here and there.
08-25-2008, 01:59 PM
I know nothing about elms, but I do recognize that look. You say the leaves are dying, but are they also dropping? (I assume so but thought I'd verify it.) Several years ago a dogwood tree in my backyard had a very similar look. The edges of the leaves would begin to turn color and get rather crispy, and then the leaves died and dropped. An arborist was here, and he said the tree had become the victim of an airborne fungus, and there was no treatmen; I had to remove the tree.
 It was a pretty little thing, too, and I miss it. I suggest you have someone come out and take a look at your elm so you know exactly what you're dealing with. With mine, not only did I have to remove the tree, I had to dispose of the leaves in the garbage, in bags. Putting them in the regular yard waste recycling would have allowed the fungus to spread.
08-25-2008, 07:07 PM
If you have a local Cooperative Extension or 4-H in your area, you may be able to bring in some leaves and let them look at it. Our county gov't has a cooperative extension office, and I bring in fauna all of the time. The helpful staff tells me what ails my plant and recommends possible treatments.
08-25-2008, 08:03 PM
Do you take in fauna or flora? If you mean those leaves then it's flora but I suppose if you can see things crawling over them it's fauna.
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