How and When to Treat Black Spots on Tree Leaves

Black spots on tree leaves are never a good sign. Consider calling a tree service in Jefferson City, MO for help if you start seeing them.

Learn if and how to treat trees that have leaves with black spots, too. This can prevent the situation from worsening and doing more extensive damage.

Why Do Black Spots Appear on Tree Leaves?

Black spots might begin appearing on tree leaves for different reasons. They are often a sign the tree has developed either a fungal or bacterial infection. Infections can occur for several reasons, including environmental stress and insect activity.

A common fungal leaf disease affecting trees is black spot fungus. Spots will typically appear on the bottom leaves before gradually working their way up. It initially causes black spots on the leaves before eventually resulting in yellowing leaves that fall off prematurely.

Black spot fungus thrives in warm, humid conditions such as the type of weather we’ve had this spring in Mid-Missouri. If a tree is routinely exposed to moisture for extended periods, black spot fungus can spread quickly, sometimes causing all the leaves to fall if left untreated.

What Should You Do if You See Black Spots on Tree Leaves?

Failure to treat spots on tree leaves is not a good option. Allowing a leaf spot disease, such as black spot fungus, to linger can be detrimental to a tree’s remaining leaves.

Instead, take the following steps to minimize the chances of black spot fungus severely damaging a tree.

Remove Infected Leaves

As soon as you see black spots on tree leaves, start removing them. After doing so, rake them up and dispose of the promptly.

This will stop the spread of spots and infection within a tree. Go the extra mile by getting these leaves off your property as soon as possible so the spores that cause black spot fungus don’t re-emerge and cause future problems.

Prune Impacted Branches

If you have black spots on the leaves of a tree, chances are its other parts also have these spots on them. For example, you may see them show on the branches.

Pruning infected areas of a tree can help prevent the spread of this fungal disease. Be sure to clean your pruning tools thoroughly before and after pruning branches to prevent the spread of spores to other parts of the tree.

Better yet, consider hiring a professional tree pruning service, such as Hentges Tree Service, to assist with this part of the process and avoid making mistakes when pruning.

Apply Fungicides to Affected Areas

Commercial fungicide treatments are available for treating leaves with black spots. However, you can also mix your own fungal treatment at home and see real results.

Here is how to do this:

1. Pour one tablespoon of baking soda into one gallon of water.
2. Add neem oil, horticultural oil, or soap to the water.
3. Mix this fungal treatment and apply it to the infected part of a tree once a week.

Practice the Proper Tree Care

Taking attentive care of a tree with black spots on its leaves should help it recover. Provide it with sufficient water each week, avoiding overwatering and keeping its leaves dry, as excessive moisture can exacerbate the issue. Water its roots instead and ensure the soil beneath it drains properly to prevent further fungal growth.

Additionally, you should prune branches to improve air circulation within a tree’s canopy. This will keep its leaves mostly dry, preventing fungal growth.

Who Can You Trust to Help Treat Black Spots on Tree Leaves?

If you are unsure whether you can treat a tree with black spots on its leaves, contact a trusted tree service for assistance. But don’t just call any company for help with this issue.

Rely on a company like Hentges Tree Service, which has extensive experience dealing with this problem. We will inspect your tree to determine if black spot fungus is causing black spots on the leaves and devise a strategy to eliminate them for good.

Contact Us If You Suspect a Tree Is Suffering from Black Spot Fungus

When the temperature outside climbs above 85 degrees, the heat usually kills the fungus that causes black spots on leaves. Buy why wait until then to allow nature to take its course when it could cause more problems for tree health in the meantime?

Let the seasoned tree care experts from Hentges Tree Service assist you. We can diagnose tree disease and determine effective methods for combating the problem.

Call us at (573) 893-2896 today to schedule an appointment.