Britain's Horse Chestnuts are currently undergoing a difficult time; there are at least three identified diseases that are causing particular concern, of which tree owners should be aware.
| 'Chestnut leaf miner' | A tiny moth which lays its eggs on chestnut leaves which then hatch and eat the leaf from the inside. |
| 'Chestnut leaf blotch' | A fungal infection that grows on and damages leaves. |
| 'Chestnut bleeding canker' | A bacterial infection which causes a dark brown or black sticky liquid to seep from damaged tissues beneath the bark. |
The trees can be vulnerable to one or all three of these diseases, leaving them more susceptible to other serious diseases such as honey fungus. No effective treatment exists for these problems, but a regular inspection of your tree will spot any problems before they could become a danger from falling branches and dead material. If you are worried about the state of your Horse Chestnut and want more information, please give us a call for advice or tree inspection in Reigate, Horsham and Dorking. More information on this and other plant diseases can be found on the RHS website: www.rhs.org.uk
For a free estimate for Horse Chestnut problems in Reigate, Dorking, Horsham or the Surrey surroundings contact us.
The canopy...
Sparse foliage/dieback from the tips
Stem and branches...
Cankers on branches or stem
Epicormic/shooting from the stem
Slime flux/resinous exudations from stem
The roots...
Fungal fruiting bodies on or around stem and roots
Visibly damaged roots
Particular species
Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
