Anyone familiar with anthracnose (sp) in Magnolia trees?

[thndrdancr]

Well the reason I am posting this is because this magnolia tree provides the only shade my poor girls get in the summer, so if and when we lose this tree, that will be IT, until we can get something else growing.
Its a gorgeous little tree, I am not 100% certain what is wrong with it, but when looking online, the fungal infection anthracnose fits.
There is branch dieback just this year, and there are holes in some major branches, also in the trunk that go deep enough to worry me. It suffered major trauma in 97 with a big ice storm and that was the beginning of the end I think.
Anything I can do for this poor tree? I read sulfur kills off the infection to some degree, so I stuffed the holes with sulfer tonite. I dearly love this tree.

This is the trunk of the tree

Just realized thats all the photo's I have downloaded of our pretty little tree, will try to get some more up tomorrow to show dieback and the holes. Thanks for any info.

Jill

 

[gardener]

Did you have a wet spring/summer this year? anthracnose is spread by rain and/or water so even if you have sprinklers in the lawn getting the leaves of the tree wet it can spread that way too. Anthracnose generally affects leaves and younger branches and can leave cankers. If this is what it is you will want to start treating in the spring. A dry season will also keep it in check. You might want to visit your local nursery and talk to a reputable nurserymen and ask about your problem. He would know more about your local area and growing conditions for your region.

And from your pics it looks like your chickens are about five feet from a major road. You must have a really nice neigborhood (good people) to leave your chickens in the front yard.

 

[MandyH]

I'd hafta agree, them are some CITY chickens. They can see the gas station from their house!!!!!

 

[ole-crone]

DH is an urban forester (about to get his masters - yeah!!) We've worked for extension for years and here is how we would deal with it -

Verify that it is anthracnose. The best way to do this is to call your local extension office and ask if there is an extension urban forester for your state and if so, get his number. Don't just call any treeman in your phone book. Half of them just know how to pull the cord on a chainsaw - remember your goal is to either save the tree or if you can't make sure you plant the replacement so it doesn't get infected.

If no urban forester, ask extension for a list of ISA arborists or if there is a city forester.

If it is anthracnose, ask how long the tree will last with it and if it would be worth treating it. If treatment is ok- check to make sure the chemical is chicken friendly.

If you do have to remove the tree, you'll need to find out what trees are suseptible to it - which ones to avoid. Ask if you can plant a replacement now - while the sick tree is still standing - so it will have a chance to have some leaves when it is time to cut the other one down.

Good luck. I'll show DH my answer when he gets home. If he disagrees or knows a better answer, I'll have him get back with you.

 

[thndrdancr]

Thanks all, I sure appreciate it.

I am pretty sure it is anthracnose from the description and unfortunately, it has infected the truck. And yes, we have had an exceptionally wet year, its rained every day here for the last week, it was a very wet spring, and its looking to be a very wet fall.
We had a very horrid ice storm in 97 that killed many many trees around here, and the year after that, it seemed to be ok. About 2 years later, I noticed a major branch that was rotting in the middle that, had it split, would have taken the whole trunk down. I cut it off but apparently it was this infection and I didnt realize it. So since its not just in some of the branches, I am sure we will slowly lose the whole tree eventually. Just a matter of time, it looks like...maybe 5 years or so but it's coming.

As for the chickens in the city...and the nice neighbors, well....

We really dont have much of a backyard, I had ordered a really cute latticework fence to cover them up, but the darned thing has been on backorder for 3 months now. We really only have 2 neighbors (back and to the side, the rest is streetside, we are on the corner), and I figured the front yard is nicer than having the chickens next to them.

Also, no shade in back or side of the house, no breeze, etc. (Good for winter tho, south side of house, and blocked from wind) Anyhow, so many people have told me they love driving by and seeing my silly chickens.

We have lost almost all of our trees over the course of living here, and need to get some started for shade.
Thanks so much for all your help.