Ash Anthracnose at Wintergreen

Cold, wet spring weather is ideal for the growth of many organisms at Wintergreen including the disease called ash anthracnose. Wintergreen is currently experiencing a widespread attack from this disease due to the prolonged wet spring weather.

Ash anthracnose is a disease whose pathogen is a conidial fungus known as Gloeosporium aridum. The disease is characterized by blight of very young leaves and shoots or by necrotic blotches on expanded leaflets. In prolonged wet springs, the leaf and shoot blight phases of anthracnose may kill almost the entire first flush of shoots on susceptible trees.

This is the pattern currently underway with ash trees throughout Wintergreen property. The first flush of leaves to come out in the spring have been attacked and subsequently dropped. This leaf drop does not mean the tree is dead. Defoliated branches should produce new shoots by mid-summer. Leaves that are approaching full size and twigs that are becoming woody are somewhat resistant and lesions cease to enlarge.

Typically, ash anthracnose requires no treatment because it is not a threat to the long-term health of the tree. The recommended action is to rake and remove the fallen leaves in order to prevent the fungus from over-wintering in the soil. Pruning infected branches is also an appropriate treatment.

If there is any specific question pertaining to tree health please email Forest Manager, Josh Palumbo or call 434-325-7451.