Elm trees dropping leaves???

[Yay2001]

Both of our lacebark elms are dropping their leaves. The leaves are yellowish instead of a healthy green, and some are spotted/mottled. There's enough on the ground to make me really concerned.

The trees are 5 years old. "Lacebarks" are supposed to be very hardy and resistant to disease (especially dutch elm disease.) But what else could it be?

I put brick flower rings around both trees and planted some flowers at the base a couple of weeks ago. Could this have distrubed them somehow?

We've also had a lot of rain, and our sticky clay soil stays wet a long time. But this certainly is nothing new --? Happens every year, and I can't imagine this suddenly making a difference.

Any ideas?

thanks!

 

[Snowwark]

Sorry to hear about your sick trees Yay2001 !

Maybe this is the problem:

Anthracnose on Trees

Several anthracnose diseases may be a problem on certain trees in the urban landscape. Many of these anthracnose diseases, including those on sycamore, maple, elm and ash, start early in the spring as the buds begin to break. Therefore, now is the time to consider control strategies.

Sycamore anthracnose is sporadic in Kansas; some years it causes severe defoliation and in others it causes little if any damage. Sycamores damaged by anthracnose usually recover by mid-June with little permanent injury. Nevertheless, certain trees are affected so severely they may require chemical control. Applications of chlorothalonil, Bordeaux, or thiophanate products at bud break, and again in two weeks, may suppress disease development. However, these fungicides are difficult to apply to large trees. Therefore, I would only recommend fungicide use on smaller trees that you are trying to establish. Alternatively, sycamores may be injected in the fall with the fungicide Arbotect to control the disease. This is the preferred method for control on large trees with a history of the disease.

Lacebark elms are becoming more popular. These trees are resistant to Dutch elm disease and the elm leaf beetle. However, elm black spot, also called anthracnose, can be a serious problem on certain selections of lacebark elm (true Chinese elm), especially young trees. Look for a black, crustlike development on new shoots. During wet springs, the fungus may cause significant twig dieback and malformation of the shoot growth. The fungus also attacks the leaves, initially resulting in yellow lesions with a black, crustlike center. Young lacebark elms with a history of this disease should be treated with Bordeaux, mancozeb, or thiophanate methyl products at bud break and again in two weeks. (NT)


You might want to call a tree service company and have them take a look at it.

Kim

 

[Yay2001]

Snowark --

Thanks so much for this valuable information! I suspected a fungus of some kind -- just not sure which. The trees appear in fairly good condition -- no eveident damage to limbs. They are fairly large trees, so not sure if spraying is an option, but will ask a professional per your suggesstions.

thanks again!