Verticillium Wilt

Symptoms

Your trees will start to have a rapid decline. This typically starts on leaves, then moving to twig shoots, and eventually taking out the entire plant. The leaves of the tree will look like they have been scorched and start to fall.

The branches will start to die-back. This disease can kill a healthy Norway maple in just one season.

What Will Happen To My Landscape?

This is a soil-borne disease that is almost always fatal. This disease is similar to the hardening of arteries as it restricts nutrient movement through the veins of the tree. Trees that have this disease take only a few years to show signs, and once they are visible the tree is typically not salvageable and should be removed. Infected soils can spread this disease to other trees.

What Can I Do About Verticillium Wilt?

The first step of treatment is to improve the growing conditions for the tree or shrub. This involves fertilization to promote growth and watering to prevent drought stress. DO NOT overwater because saturated soils are extremely damaging to plant roots. Pruning out the dead and wilting branches will not rid the tree of the fungus because it is found throughout the plant. Pruning does, however, remove weakened limbs, which may be attacked by other opportunistic fungi and insect pests.

How Can Natural Way Help Me?

At this time there is no fungicidal treatment that is effective in the control of this disease. On sites where verticillium has been identified, it is best to plant disease resistant trees and shrubs when replacing dead and dying plants.