A step by step guide on identifying trees and thier diseases

• Amanda
• February 1, 2022
• Certifications and Training,

In this blog, you can see and know a step by step guide on identifying trees and their diseases

 

This blog describes some of the trees name, Species, diseases and their prevention guide .

 

ALBERTA COMMON TREES and SHRUBS: An Albertan urban Arboriculture basic field guide. By Amanda Maxim:

1) Aspen
2) Ash (Green)
3) Barberry
4) Birch
5) Cedar
1) Crabapple (and Apple)
2) Caragana
3) Cherry(Amur, chokecherry etc)
4) Cotoneaster
5) Dogwood
6) Elm
7) Hawthorne
8) Horse chestnut / Ohio buckeye
9) Juniper
10) Larch
11) Lilac and Japanese Lilac
12) Linden
13) Nine-bark
14) Oak
15) Poplar
16) Potenttila
17) Pine
18) Mugo pine
19) Mountain Ash
20) Mayday
21) Maples. Silver, Manitoba, Autumn blaze, Amur and Ornamental
22) Russian Olive
23) Rose bush
24) Schubert chokecherry
25) Sumac
26) Spruce
27) Willow

Aspen:

• Similar to Poplar(within the same family/closely related.)
• Towering and non-towering
• Softwood, susceptible to breakage
• Check for borer bug infestation(holes in the trunk, sawdust, and “weeping”
  

  Aspen

Ash(Green):

•  Straight “propellers” helps to identify tree
•  Rigid bark
   
  

  Ash(Green)

   

Barberry:

•  “Thorny” shrub
• Burgundy/red color

 

Birch:

• Distinct leaf shape
• Bark is like “paper”
• Hanging catkins.
• Short life span in Alberta (60 years)
• Top dieback indicates tree’s decline

 

Cedar:

•  Is susceptible to frost and sun damage. Can cover with burlap to help avoid this.
• Cedar/Juniper/Hawthorne rust
• If pruned improperly, will leave “holes” that will not grow back.

Crabapple and (Apple):

• Distinct bark (for fruit trees, in general)
• Flowers in Spring for a short period
• If unsure, pierce fruit and will have the consistency of apple(firmer) or cherry(more squishy)
• There are certain times of the year we can prune them to increase or decrease Apple production.
• If apples are used or harvested, best to prune in early Spring or in Fall.
  Watch out for Firelight!

 

Caragana:

• Often in hedge form or weeping
• Yellow catkins help identify

 

Cherry (chokecherry(see Schubert chokecherry)/ other cherries :

• Distinct Bark
• Pierce fruit to identify
• Flowers in Spring
• Schubert and Mayday(same family of species) are susceptible to black knots.

 

Cotoneaster:

• Is often in shrub or hedge form
• Blackish berries
• “Waxy” leaves
• Is susceptible to Oyster shell scale
• Can cut back to rejuvenate Dogwood
• In Shrub form(two common types.

 

Elm:

• Jagged leaves, distant leaf shape
• Tree is usually Y shaped
• Has “circular paper-like seeds”
• Prune: Oct-March only (Dutch Elm Disease)
• If removed, all tree debris and wood must be disposed of by us and stump must be ground as per by-law.

Hawthorne:

• Distinct leaf shape
• Flowering tree
• Susceptible to rust
• Thorny
• Related to the rose family

Horse chestnut/Ohio buckeye:

• • Has large hard seeds(similar to acorns)
  • Distinct leaf shape
  • Slow growing

 

Juniper:

• Often has a blue tinge
• Often has blue colored berries.
• Susceptible to rust
• Can be “Ground Juniper” or regular Juniper

Larch:

• AKA Tamarack
• Soft needles
• Small cones
• Needles change colors like leaves (yellow/green)
• Small needles