Ornamental & Tree Diseases

Over the summer I noticed a lot of dying and dead elm trees. I'm concerned because they have always been one of my favorite trees, and it's a shame to see them disappearing from urban and woodland landscapes. Why are we losing so many of our elm trees?

The answer to this question is best covered in a newsletter: Where Have All The Elm Trees Gone?

Unfortunately, our native elms (winged, slippery, American, and other species native to our area) are susceptible to a insect-transmitted mycoplasma disease known as elm yellows, for which there is no means of control. Read this newsletter for additional details.

Winged elms, slippery elms, and all elms native to Mississippi are susceptible to elm yellows - a mycoplasma disease. The causal microorganism is picked-up and carried from diseased to healthy trees by the elm leafhopper. Transmission may also occur through root grafts between diseased and healthy trees. Initial symptoms (yellowing of foliage) is eventually followed by tree death.

(Below) Dark brown streaks in phloem tissue just beneath the bark on the twig of this winged elm are distinctive symptoms of elm yellows. Affected trees also exhibit yellowing of foliage; tree death often occurs within the same season symptoms appear.