Why Do My Trees Look Like They Are Dying This Year?

By: Chad Gadsby, Service Forester, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
   Throughout 2019, I fielded numerous calls regarding various tree species that were sick and appeared to be dying. The trend started in May and persisted through leaf drop. The common theme was that the trees and shrubs in question were generally suffering from fungal leaf diseases.
   The weather pattern that started in 2018 and carried through early June 2019 brought feet of rain to the region. It also resulted in cooler than average temperatures. This weather pattern provided the perfect scenario for fungal development. As a result, we saw various fungal diseases impacting apple, cherry, conifers, maples, and oak to name a few. Some cases were so severe that the trees were completely defoliated.

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