The formal and stately American beech holds a special place in the hearts of many. It is a large, graceful native tree with smooth gray bark and an arching crown. The American beech is easy to spot from its shiny, ribbed dark green oval leaves which come to a tip. Often used in acreages, golf courses, and the forestry industry, beech trees are the perfect fit for large, park-like landscapes where it has space to spread its wide, low-hanging branches. Its leafy canopy offers great shade in the summer as well as beautiful bronze coloring in autumn.
However, a small organism causes big problems for beech trees. Beech trees face a threat in beech leaf disease. Beech leaf disease is a fungus associated with the nematode Litylenchus crenatae that affects and kills beech trees. Tree bark disease, which occurs as the result of an invasive insect-fungus complex, has also been known to affect beech trees. A diseased beach tree may show a thinning crown, immature leaves, yellowing leaf coloration caused by decreasing chlorophyll content, and dead limbs.
Our tree professionals at the Woodlawn Conservancy are constantly checking trees on our property for signs of disease. Planting and protecting trees for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful community are the core of the Woodlawn Conservancy’s work. The Woodlawn Conservancy is protecting beech trees in the landscape with early detection of beech scale (sap-sucking insects that prey on trees and plants), and prompt treatment with soap and horticultural sprays that provide effective control of scale when crawlers are present.