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Tag: Christmas tree diseases

This season, many people are shopping for a perfect cut tree or live tree to decorate their homes.
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This season, many people are shopping for a perfect cut tree or live tree to Douglas fir treesdecorate their homes. Our local Christmas tree growers face many challenges to growing a perfect tree, an expensive and time-consuming process. A Christmas tree takes 8 to 10 years to grow to a good size, and there are many hurdles along the way. Trees must be planted properly in good soil, not too shallow or not too deep. It may take up to three years for a transplanted seedling to establish a good root system.
Insect pests and plant diseases can cause problems for Christmas tree growers. Phytophthora root rot is problematic on tree farms in many states. Phytophthora is a fungus-like organism, favored by wet, saturated soils with poor drainage. Roots in saturated soil may be stressed. The best management strategies for root rot are the purchase of clean healthy seedlings and proper site selection, because the best possible control is to avoid Phytophthora root rot to start.
There are other pests and diseases that attack Christmas tree species, such as needlecast fungi that cause spotting and discoloration of needles, and needle drop. Growers must scout their trees, apply fertilizer and pest control, trim to shape, and keep up with research on tree species and new varieties. Sales of trees, following the 10 years of nurturing, all occur yearly within a 4 to 6 week period! Our Christmas tree growers are dedicated agricultural professionals who love to see smiles on the faces of people who purchase and enjoy the trees that they grow!
Find a Delaware Christmas Tree Grower near you at: http://www.delawarechristmastreegrowersassn.com/
NFG 12/5/2016

An interdisciplinary team of students at the University of Delaware has developed a new app called PocketFarmer designed to help Christmas tree farmers in the region diagnose, identify and mark potentially diseased plants.
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UD App Development Team
UD App Development Team

An interdisciplinary team of students at the University of Delaware has developed a new app called PocketFarmer designed to help Christmas tree farmers in the region diagnose, identify and mark potentially diseased plants.
The PocketFarmer was developed through the Spin In program in UD’s Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships (OEIP).
Article on UDaily and on DelMarVa Morning Ag Clips:
https://www.morningagclips.com/enewsletter/delmarva-edition-for-may-14-2015/?utm_content=articles&utm_campaign=NLCampaign&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_term=newsletteredition&utm_medium=email

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UD App Development Team
UD App Development Team

Conifer diagnostic app is the first of the UD Pocket Farmer App series for UD Cooperative Extension. A group of students began development of the app in January, with availability expected in the Apple Store in mid-summer. See the article on UDaily: http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2015/may/pocketfarmer-app-051115.html
and on DelMarVa Morning Ag Clips:https://www.morningagclips.com/enewsletter/delmarva-edition-for-may-14-2015/

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Healthy Douglas FirChristmas Tree Planting Tips

The lifting, storage, and transport involved in shipments of evergreen planting stock can have long lasting effects. Planting stress affects root quality, and those effects can last beyond planting and can cause plants to not recover completely. Water is probably the most important factor. The system can be thought of as keeping a checkbook. Each stress subtracts from the quality balance remaining for tree health. Some tree nurseries allow for freezer storage of seedlings that may help preserve moisture in the plants and plant roots. Plugs need different care than bare root stock. Proper planting and care to have roots set properly can avoid J root which will cause long term stress on trees.

Christmas Trees

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Swiss needlecast is an increasing problem on Douglas fir trees. This fungal disease results in yellow to brown tips of second and third year needles on lower branches. Needles will drop in late summer.  Look for fungal fruiting bodies along the stomates on the underside of the needles. Fungicide sprays must be used to control this disease when spores are released in the early spring during wet weather.  Spray when new shoots are 1/2 to 1 inch long and spray again two weeks later.  Please contact your local Cooperative Extension office for recommendations on specific fungicides to use.

Fruiting Bodies of the Swiss Needle Cast Fungus on Needles