Anthracnose
Most commonly found in deciduous trees such as Sycamore, Dogwood, Linden, Maple, and Oak. Excessively damp conditions in the spring will often result in anthracnose infections in these species. Symptoms are: excessive leaf drop in late spring; visible fungi on leaf; continued infections often result in oddly formed branching. Foliar treatments with fungicide are successful, particularly as a preventative measure, applied at the beginning of the growing season.
Apple Scab
This fungal disease is very disfiguring to the fruit and foliage of apple and crabapple trees. It can cause reduced vigor of the tree through reduced photosynthetic ability, as well as make the fruit unpalatable. Preventative foliar treatments are successful, if the conditions warrant. Edible apple trees require quite a commitment to keep them healthy and pest free (minimum 4 sprays per season), as well as regular pruning if attractive fruit is desired.
Black Knot Canker
Most commonly found in black and edible cherry species. This disease is easily identified by the presence of elongated knots in the woody tissues of the trees twigs and branches. If left unchecked, the amount of knots in the tree will increase, causing the ends of the affected branches to die off.
This will eventually kill the tree. Control of this disease is two part:
- Pruning out and raking out affected branches and
- Foliar fungicide applications can offer significant protection, when caught early. Applications should start at the beginning of the growing season, and continue through the beginning of summer.
Cedar-Apple Rust
This alternate host disease can distort the foliage, fruit, and twigs of apples and crabapples, but is mostly a cosmetic injury. For ornamental crabapples in areas of high visibility, it might warrant treatment, as it leads to premature leaf yellowing and leaf drop. The most conspicuous form of this disease is the galls that form on juniper and cedar.
Spores are released from here to infect the crabapple in the early spring. These galls do not need treatment, but preventative foliar treatments are available for susceptible crabapples. Foliar sprays with the appropriate fungicide are successful, starting in the beginning of the growing season.
Diplodia Tip Blight
Most commonly found in Austrian, Scotch, and red pine, this needle disease stunts the new year’s growth, and eventually causes older needles on the tree to turn brown.; Severely affected trees will die from this disease, if untreated. Treatments with foliar fungicide sprays are successful, starting in the beginning of the growing season.
Dutch Elm Disease (DED)
Introduced in the early 1900’s, this disease has wiped out most of the mature American elms in the country. DED is spread by a harmless beetle, and also can be spread from tree to tree by root contact. Treatment is successful when done as a preventative measure. The preferred method of treatment is direct tree trunk injection.
Phytopthera Root Rot
Primarily a concern with older beech trees, this root disease is the leading source for mature beech mortality. Bleeding cankers are seen on infected trees (see photo). Treatments are helpful, especially as a preventative measure, or on mildly affected trees.
Powdery Mildew
This unsightly leaf fungus commonly affects lilac and dogwood. It is aesthetically unpleasing, but not very harmful to a healthy plant. Highly visible ornamentals may warrant treatment, via foliar spray. Treatments are successful, when applied as a preventative, starting in the beginning of the growing season.
Rhizosphera Needle Cast
Most commonly found in blue and white spruce, this needle fungus causes new and old growth to turn a purplish brown and fall off. If left unchecked for too long, the tree will lose so many needles that its aesthetic value is eventually destroyed. Foliar treatments with fungicide are successful, starting in the beginning of the growing season.
Leaf Spot in Birch
Anthracnose, which is sometimes referred to as leaf spot or leaf blight, causes brown or black spots, sometimes with a light center, and often surrounded by yellow tissue. Infected leaves usually drop prematurely from the tree.
From the first phone call, to the contract writing, until the expert job done today, there is nothing but praise for your team. You handled my tree with great care. Your crew leader moved rapidly and the team was right with him. He was efficient but cut each limb with a professional eye. I wrote to BBB but see you are already A+.
These guys are scientists, not just tree cutters. They are very professional. We will use them again and highly recommend them. They were polite, personable and just great guys. WE had a Japanese maple trimmed back as well as some yew bush fixing and fertilization. They did the job to perfection. They were in and out and cleaned up the mess and took everything with them.
Just wanted you to know that I couldn’t be more pleased with the job that your crew did for me. They were outstanding!
You saved my big holly tree, thanks.
I was very pleased with their service. We have a beautiful old oak that was beginning to dry up and lose leaves. It didn’t look healthy. We were thrilled that the tree recovered. We would highly recommend them.
Kaiser is great, they have been so helpful to us in bringing back to life many of our Japanese Maple trees. We have several rare specimens and they were infested with Winter Moth and then with Cottony Scale. Last year they sprayed for both and did a deep root fertilization to all of our trees and shrubs and everything looks amazing this year. We couldn’t be happier with the service. They are all very professional and very approachable. I highly recommend them!
I was very impressed with the detailed and itemized list of work that Ames Kaiser and I had discussed. He listed each item individually and was specific in what was to be done. Each time I called, I spoke with a knowledgeable, pleasant woman in the office. Ames returned my calls promptly, and gave me his personal cell phone number to call back. The crew that came to do the work was also very knowledgeable and professional. The work was done neatly and no mess was left in my yard. I would hire them again in a minute, not just for tree cutting but for tree maintenance and to preserve the health of my trees. I was very impressed.
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Serving Rhode Island since 1974
P.O. Box 548 North Kingstown, RI 02852
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