- Patches of brown needles
- Common on lower branches
- Tip dieback on needles or stem
Pestalotia infects arborvitae, cypress, juniper and white pine when the trees are stressed. Symptoms include tip blight, progressing from the needle tip towards the stem on cedar and arborvitae or from the stem to needle tip on cypress trees. Small, charcoal gray bumps may be peppered within the dead needle and stem tissue. These symptoms may resemble those of other evergreen pathogens, thus evaluation of disease samples by a diagnostic lab is recommended.
Pestalotia infects stressed or wounded trees in nurseries and home landscapes during periods of wet weather. Spores are produced within the charcoal grey bumps that form on dead tissues. These spores are wind and splash dispersed to nearby needles and where they can infect, given the trees are still stressed and wet weather is present.
Pestalotia is a weak pathogen and rarely requires control beyond reducing stresses on the tree. When purchasing new trees, avoid individuals that show symptoms of Pestalotia or stress. Plant trees in a location where they will get the proper amount of sunlight and soil drainage. If necessary, amend the soil around the root zone or install drain tile before installing the tree. Water and fertilize existing plantings as needed but avoid excess. Minimize physical injury and damage from pests and other diseases.
Active Ingredients include: Copper salts, Propiconazole, Thiophanate-methyl
