Sudden oak death: One of the deadliest plant diseases

Gardeners care about their plants a lot, but some diseases are hard to identify, and even harder to cure - and one of them is called "sudden oak death".

It sounds pretty terrifying, and it actually is - it's highly contagious, and it can kill your garden trees pretty quickly as well.

Let's find out more about this illness and its main signs.

What is it?

Sudden oak death is like a very bad sickness for oak trees and some other plants. It's caused by a tiny germ called a pathogen, and it spreads from one tree to another, just like how you can catch a cold from someone else.

When this sickness infects oak trees, it can make them very sick and even cause them to die suddenly, hence the name "sudden oak death." It's a big problem because oak trees are important for forests and animals that live in them.

Scientists and tree experts are working hard to stop this sickness from spreading because it can harm lots of trees and change the places where these trees grow. So, they're trying to find ways to protect the trees and keep them healthy.

How to identify it

Bleeding and cracked bark

You might see a dark liquid oozing from the tree's bark, kind of like it's bleeding.

Dead leaves

The tree's leaves turn brown and die, even when it's not the usual season for that to happen.

Thinning canopy

The top part of the tree starts looking thinner because it's losing leaves and branches.

Sapwood color change

If you cut into the tree, you might notice that the wood inside has turned a reddish-brown color.

If you notice some of these signs, then it's time to become worried - your plants might be seriously ill!
 

• Related news:
• oak
• trees
• illness
• gardening
• 6 September 2023

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