The mild weather in San Diego may be convenient for its residents, but it also appeals to the city’s insect population. Rural San Diego towns see higher rates of rodent and animal infestation, whereas settlements in the desert are more vulnerable to bug issues.
Trees require healthy habitats, to grow to their greatest capacity. Due to this, we request that Orange County citizens “adopt” and take care of these young trees while they are still developing.
Sudden Oak Death is the name for a disease caused by Phytophthora ramorum. This recently introduced non-native pathogen has killed thousands of oak trees in 14 coastal counties in California alone. The disease can be moved long distances quickly in infected plants, and professionals use phosphonate fungicide for both sudden oak death prevention and infected oak tree treatment.
If you notice holes in tree trunk and branches, there can be an infestation of a wood boring beetle. Tree borers are small insects that burrow into trees, causing severe damage to the tree’s structure and health. These pests are difficult to control and can quickly destroy a tree if left unchecked.
The Magnolia is a beautiful tree with blooms as big and bright as the leaves on its thick, lush branches. However, Magnolias are also unfortunately prone to infestation by the Magnolia scale. They feed on the sap of Magnolia trees, causing significant damage to the tree if left untreated. This feeding can cause extensive damage to the tree, including dieback of branches, leaf yellowing, drop, and stunted growth. In severe cases, Magnolia scale infestation can even kill the tree.
Bot Canker or Botryosphaeria dothidea is a fungus that often affects various types of woody shrubs and trees and can cause extensive dieback. This pathogen invades through wounds in the bark, causing the formation of cankers. The cankers then expand and girdle twigs, branches, and even the trunk, leading to the eventual decline of the plant. Botryosphaeria dothidea is just one of many species of canker-causing fungi.