The southern New England coast is an ideal environment to grow European Beech (Fagus sylvatica). The large size of the trunk and unique growth habit of European Beech greatly enhances the aesthetic appeal of the landscape. Newport and the surrounding area is famous for stately European Beech trees.

European beech has a natural lifespan of 100 to 150 years. Many of the giant European Beeches in southern Rhode Island were planted from 1880s to 1900 and are approaching their end of life.

However, for at least the past 40 years, tree care professionals in the Northeast have noticed an inexplicable early death of mature European Beech trees. In the last 10 years, reports of the decline have increased dramatically.

In 2001, it was discovered that a plant pathogen in the genus Phytopthora was a primary cause of the decline. Since then, experts have been working to learn more about the biology of the disease and how to manage it.

It is now know that a combination of organisms is speeding up the decline of European Beech, leading to early death. These organisms work together, and while nothing can be done to stop the natural death of European Beech, their early decline and premature death can be prevented or slowed to allow trees to grow to full maturity.

Step 1: Bleeding Cankers

The liquid that drains from the bleeding cankers is mildly alcoholic. This attracts Ambrosia Beetles (Xylosandrus crassiusculus) which excavate tunnels into the tree in which it releases spores of a fungal symbiont. This fungus attacks weakened beech trees causing further decline.

The next step in the decline is often the appearance of Twolined Chestnut Borer (Agrilus bilineatus), which only attacks stressed trees. The first symptom of borers is usually wilted foliage on scattered branches during late summer. Foliage wilts prematurely, turns brown, but remains attached to the branches for several weeks or months before dropping. Such branches will die and produce no foliage in the next year.

European Beech has thin bark and is highly susceptible to sunscald. The action of the borer kills larger branches. As large branches die they expose sections of bark that were previously protected from the sun’s direct rays. Scalded tissue dies leading to more tree decline and death.

Current Preventative Measures

Led by researches at Bartlett Tree Experts, a very promising and cost-effective way to stop the decline in European Beech has been discovered. They have found that if the bleeding cankers can be prevented, the decline can be averted. Even if small cankers are present, their spread can often be prevented and sometimes reversed.

The current "best" treatment is Agri-Fos^®. This product was developed in Australia as a fertilizer. It has been found that Agri-Fos boosts a tree’s natural immune response against pathogenic attack and stimulates the tree to tolerate higher levels of pathogen attack.

Since it is more effective to prevent the cankers rather than treat an infected tree, the current recommendation is to treat all European Beech over 28-inch caliper twice a year, in the spring and the fall. Agri-fos can be applied anytime that the tree is actively growing, but should not be applied when the tree is dormant, as the chemicals will not effectively move through the tree’s vascular system.

Other Preventative Measures

There are other preventative measures that can be used IN ADDITION to Agri-fos:

• Fertilize the tree regularly. European Beeches respond to a good fertilization program and healthy trees can fight off infection better than stressed trees.
• European Beeches resent compacted soil. As the soil becomes more compact it weakens the tree making it more susceptible to Phytophthora citricola. Having an arborist using an air-spade system to loosen the soil and make the roots healthier is suggested.
• Some ground covers, including Vinca, have been found to he a host to Phytophthora citricola. You should keep turf and ground cover plants out of the drip area of European Beech trees.
• Hard wood chip mulch has been shown to suppress Phytophthora citricola, but pine bark much actually stimulates their growth. Much European Beech with wood chips, not pine bark much.
• Exposing European Beech bark to sunlight can lead to sunscald and tree decline. Never trim out healthy upper European Beech branches.

Finally, even with a regular preventative program, European Beech is living organism subject to a natural lifespan. In order for future generations to enjoy these wonderful trees, the Jamestown Tree Preservation and Protection Committee strongly encourages the planting of European Beech.

To learn more, or to identify a site on your property for a European Beech, contact the Jamestown Tree Warden.

 Close Window