Tar spot is a tree disease
that I see often as an applicator in Oxford,
MI. Tar spot is one of the easier tree diseases to diagnose, as it leaves black
circular spots on the leaves of a maple. They are called “tar spots” because
the fungus looks like tar has been dropped on your leaves. For the most part
this tree disease is a cosmetic problem.
I’ve never seen a tree in Oxford die from a tar
spot infection, however a bad infection will cause almost every Maple leaf to
be covered with large black spots, and it also can cause the leaves to drop
early. Once your tree has tar spot it is going to be on the leaves for the rest
of the summer. To reduce the chance of infection next year make sure to rake up
as many of the infected leaves as possible. The infected leaves are what carry
this tree disease from one year to the next.
The best way to control tar
spot in is to schedule a tree spraying program in the spring. A tar spot
control program would consist of us coming out and making sure the tree disease
is indeed tar spot, then you would be put on a regular tree spraying program to
have that tree or trees treated. The treatment would involve spraying the tree
with fungicides; this will prevent the disease from forming on the leaf.
The fact that Tar Spot does
not hurt the tree means a lot of homeowners in Oxford do not spray their trees for this
particular tree disease. The problem with not treating tar spot is soon it
spreads to all your neighbors trees; it does not take long for tar spot to
affect an entire block. What I don’t like about tar spot is that maples are one
of the most beautiful trees and known for its leaf, and tar spot makes them
very ugly.
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