Joe Marra Tree Service

Magnolia Tree Diseases

Magnolia Tree Diseases

The imagistic, subtle & imponent magnolia tree is one of the exotic specimens with flowering beauty & it can grow ideally in New Jersey. Its desirable and addictive aromatic perfume makes it popular and loved. Different types of fungi can infect Magnolia. Learn about the 8 most common magnolia tree diseases, symptoms, and treatments.

Why Are Magnolia Trees Special?

Why Are Magnolia Trees Special?

You will be fascinated with beautiful two-toned waxy leaves and plush white flowers; it also spreads a captivating perfume.

Their leaves are incredibly tough and long-lasting and are used as filler foliage for floral arrangements.

The leaves of these trees mean good wishes, too. In the U.S., these plants symbolize luck, stability, nobility, and purity. It is associated with strong women. To be exact, we can talk about the meaning of its flowers according to their colors.

6 Magnolia Flower Colors: The Incredible Meaning & Symbolism

  1. White is traditionally associated with purity, luck, and stability.
  2. Green means health, joy, and good fortune.
  3. Pink is associated with youth, femininity, romance, and innocence.
  4. Purple represents royalty and dignity.
  5. Red is a symbol of love, romance, and passion.
  6. Yellow means happiness and friendship.

8 Common Magnolia Tree Diseases & Treatments

There are more than 200 species of magnolia trees, and they are not entirely immune to diseases and pests.

You need to be aware of the diseases that affect your magnolia trees.

1. White Spots on Magnolia Leaves

This disease affects trees and shrubs with thin, leathery leaves. It attacks quietly and is more active in warm and humid weather. The color of this sickness is light gray, allowing us to see flakes on its leaves.

2. Bacterial Blight Magnolia Diseases

This sickness damages the young leaves, not only of your magnolia but many plants. These bacteria don’t like older leaves; they are untouched by this disease.

Stormy weather is ideal for this disease to develop. These bacteria prefer humidity and cool conditions.

First, the disease appears on leaves. Then, over time, it will turn dark brown, changing color and shape irregularly. 

2-Step Treatment to Avoid Bacterial Blight Magnolia Diseases

  1. Cut the foliage from the tree and burn these diseased leaves.
  2. Apply copper fungicide, the only effective chemical for this disease. Apply it and wait 1 or 2 weeks before spraying the second dose.

3. Magnolia Tree Fungus

Powdery mildew is a fungal disease controllable if you treat it quickly, and nothing dangerous will happen. However, it can be severely damaged if you don’t notice your tree’s condition.

Treatments

The most effective and easiest way to treat this disease is to spray leaves and branches with horticultural oil

4. Magnolia Leaf Spot

A range variety of pathogens can damage mongolia leaves. This disease severely affects their leaves’ appearance.

The algal leaf spot is most severe on weak magnolias and in poor vigor. This spot becomes increasingly pale until the tissue dies when you see a brown color, and finally, these spots will turn white.

5 Tips to Treat Algal Leaf Spots

  1. Remove the brown leaves.
  2. Collect the diseased leaves, and throw them, and throw them, and throw them far away from your yard.
  3. Spray the leaves and petioles with fungicide, and repeat the dose for two weeks.
  4. Don’t overwater.
  5. Ensure good airflow around the crown of your magnolia plant.

5. Crown Gall

The most affected parts are wounds, trunks, etc. This infection grows more expansive than the branch or trunk.

3 Treatments

  1. Treat your magnolia tree infections by pruning branches with sterilized tools.
  2. Remove the abnormal development (galls on a tree) from your plant by cutting carefully and avoiding damage to healthy tissue.
  3. You can prune out and destroy infected branches or stems below galls.

6. Wetwood

Wetwood is a sickness that primarily affects the trunk and branches of this fragrant tree. These bacteria enter the plant through wounds or cracks in the bark; the stem usually dries.

4 Tips for Proper Westwood Treatment

  1. Cut (with a sterilized pruning tool) below the affected area during dry weather.
  2. Clean the trunk with a sharp knife, caring for any living tissue.
  3. Spray the wounds on the trunk with alcohol; it can kill the bacteria and reduce the damage. Repeat this action for one or two months if needed.
  4. Use a liquid fertilizer to provide the strength to fight the sickness; this action and all the above help the magnolia tree to recover.

7. Wood Decay

Wood Decay

This severe infection mainly affects the tree’s trunk and attacks older trees, cracking the bark or the branch attachment. Then it destroys the tissues of your trees, rotting wood.

3 Treatments: Professional Help Is Better

  1. Clean the wound of dead tissue with a sharp tool to avoid damage to the living parts of your tree.
  2. Spray copper fungicide, and once it is dry, apply alcohol. Finally, feed your plant with a multi-purpose fertilizer.
  3. If the infection progresses, you must get professional treatment from a reputable tree company.

8. Canker

The tree will change its leaves’ color once the trunk and branches are infected.

The evidence of this sickness is the deformation of the bark, and black necroses appear in the most severely affected places.

This severe infection can kill your tree if untreated.

Extreme Treatments

Remove all dead tissues with sterile sharp and tools. Use fungicides and cut all affected branches.

Symptoms, Causes, Prevention & Cure

Symptoms, Causes, Prevention & Cure

Magnolia trees can catch infections by different types of fungi; the most singular symptom is when the trees change their leaves.

Plants that are wet, shady, and humid environments present a high risk, which will be a contributory factor of fungal diseases.

Avoid watering the foliage and prune regularly. Dispose of the residue and disinfect the tools. Apply fungicidal sprays to stop any secondary infection. Use fertilizers that will be beneficial to bring strong trees.

I hope you loved our article, and if you found it helpful, share this piece of content on your social media. Stay tuned, take care, and till next time!

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