Drought Stress, Needle Drop, and Common Evergreen Issues in Cochrane

Have you noticed your spruce or pine tree looking more bare than usual? Needles turning brown and dropping - sometimes in late summer or even fall?

Are your birch leaves turning brown and papery in summer? Is the bark cracking or peeling? Are branches at the top of the tree slowly dying back?

These are common signs of two major threats to birch trees in Cochrane and NW Calgary:

• Birch Leafminer

• Bronze Birch Borer

Both insects attack birch trees already under stress — and if left unchecked, they can cause serious long-term decline or even death. But there’s good news: with early intervention and the right regenerative treatments, your birch can recover.

Have you noticed your tree covered in tiny bugs? Sticky leaves? Swarms of wasps circling around?

Insects like aphids, leafhoppers, caterpillars, and mites are common in Cochrane and NW Calgary, especially in spring and early summer. But if your tree seems to be under constant insect attack, there’s a deeper issue going on — and it’s not just about the bugs.

Have you noticed clusters of leaves turning yellow, curling, and drying out at the tips of your tree or hedge? Does it look like the bark is peeling off in places? Are entire sections of a shrub suddenly dying back?

These are often signs of Fireblight — a fast-spreading bacterial infection that affects many popular trees and shrubs in Cochrane and NW Calgary, especially ornamental apples, Mountain Ash, and cotoneaster hedges.

This disease can spread between different species, causing widespread damage if not caught early. But with the right approach, we can slow its progress and help trees recover.

Have you noticed odd, black clumps growing along the branches of your Chokecherry or Mayday tree? Maybe they look like lumps of burnt wood or dried tar wrapped around a twig.

You’re likely looking at Black Knot — a fungal disease that’s extremely common in Cochrane and NW Calgary, especially on Mayday and Schubert chokecherry trees. While they may look different at first, both are part of the Prunus genus and are highly susceptible.

It’s not just an eyesore — if left unchecked, Black Knot can slowly disfigure and kill your tree over time. But if you catch it early, there’s still hope.

The Science of Soil and Plant Growth….