Pests & Diseases
Why Businesses Choose Kent Tree Brothers
A wide range of tree pests and diseases can strike your site at any time. That is why it is so important to work with a team who can efficiently diagnose and treat these problems. Luckily for you, we are more than up to the task. We are Kent Tree Brothers, local experts in pest and disease management. Everything from oak processionary moth to fungal tree diseases falls within our area of expertise, putting your trees in safe hands.
Want to find out more about our tree disease treatment services and the issues that are most common? Here is everything you need to know!
Tree pests and diseases
Tree diseases are one of those things that you really cannot ignore. If left untreated, they can weaken a tree and make it dangerous. Some can even spread to nearby trees. The only way to deal with tree diseases is to address them as quickly as possible. There are all kinds of warning signs to look out for, from discoloured leaves to peeling bark. If you notice something that doesn’t seem normal for your tree, it is always better to err on the side of caution and get in touch with us. It may be nothing, but if there is an issue, we can take action right away.
Common tree pests and diseases
There are so many diseases that can affect trees in the UK. Different species have specific diseases that they are vulnerable to, while there are some diseases that can damage all kinds of trees. These are ones that are of concern in the UK right now:
- Ash dieback
- Acute oak decline
- Asian and citrus longhorn beetles
- Bronze birch borer
- Dothistroma needle blight
- Dutch elm disease
- Eight-toothed spruce bark beetle
- Elm zig-zag sawfly
- Emerald ash borer
- European mountain ash ringspot-associated virus
- Great spruce bark beetle
- Horse chestnut bleeding canker
- Horse chestnut leaf miner
- Plane wilt
- Oak lace bug
- Oriental chestnut gall wasp
- Phytophthora austrocedri
- Phytophthora lateralis
- Trees, woods, and wildlife
- Phytophthora ramorum
- Pine processionary moth
- Oak processionary moth
- Red-necked longhorn beetle
- Sirococcus tsugae
- Sweet chestnut blight
What is OPM?
Let’s look at one of the diseases on that list for a moment. What is OPM? Oak processionary moth (Thaumetopoea processionea), as the name suggests, affects oak trees. The larvae feed on leaves and can strip trees bare in the most severe cases. This can leave them really vulnerable to other pests and diseases. They will also be less able to withstand severe weather conditions, such as frost, which could lead to them becoming unstable.
The larvae can be harmful to humans if touched. They can cause itchy skin rashes, eye and throat irritations and, in the most severe cases, breathing difficulties. So, as well as being bad for trees, they are a health concern for humans, too.
How we work
Our tree surgeons know how to handle a wide range of tree pests and diseases. We carry out tree inspections to catch any issues as early as possible. Acting early makes treatment much more effective, as well as less costly and disruptive. We have a wealth of treatments and tools at our disposal, so we will quickly be able to enjoy the best course of action for your tree. In situations where treatment isn’t an option, we can act to prevent a disease’s spread.
Talk to us
Want to find out more about us and what we do? Get in touch with our tree disease treatment experts today!