Healthy trees, with the right mix of soil, sun, water and fertilizer can last a very long time. However, a combinations of not-ideal conditions and the intrusion of invasive species and emergent diseases can rip through otherwise healthy trees in the Hudson Valley, leaving to a need for immediate tree removal services.
The idea of different tree diseases and invasive species is not new, but it is always evolving. In this blog post, we’re going to dig through the archives of Ulster County and Dutchess County, NY to show some of the ways that tree disease has affected our local trees since the late 1800s.
Early 1900s: The Chestnut Catastrophe
First reported at the New York Zoological Garden in the Bronx in 1908, the fungus Cryphonectria parasitica wiped out three billion of the East Coast’s once-dominant American chestnut trees by the 1960s. One critical lesson learned from fighting chestnut blight was that the solution lied in adapting the host species with tree maintenance services, rather than simply fighting the blight itself.
1919: Kingston Selected as Model City for Tree Planting
In the early 1900s, Kingston was actually known for its trees. The New York State College of Forestry issued a tree survey that identified a number of tree diseases in the city, like chestnut blight, which wiped out most of the chestnut trees in the Northeast. It notes an “elm leaf beetle,” as well as a leopard moth and white-marked tussock moth that were defoliating trees. There were also a number of fungal diseases in the region.
The study also suggested a number of ideal trees that are common in Kingston today, such as Norway Maples, Red Maples, Sugar Maples, Red Oak, Pin Oak, and more.
1930s: Dutch Elm Disease
Dutch Elm Disease made it to the United States via New York City’s imported elm logs from Europe in the 1930s. It caused the death of millions of American elms via elm bark beetles, and devastated trees that were planted in close proximity, which was the practice of urban planners at the time. In 1948, it seems to have reached Kingston, with the Daily Freeman writing “the Dutch Elm disease year by year extends its threat of destruction to these fine trees over a wider area… the blight which destroyed the native chestnuts in the East and Midwest early in the century is recalled.”
1955: Kingston Engages in Aerial Spraying
While there are mixed reports on the effects of spraying, the Mayor of Kingston in 1955 reported that after undertaking an aerial spraying campaign, “the lack of insects and other tree diseases was most noticeable. Our trees are part of the beauty of our city, and I feel we should do all we can to protect them.”
1961: New York Warns of Ash Disease
The State Conservation department warned that an unidentified disease was starting to kill ash trees in the state. This was a precursor to the late 2000s advent of the ash borer disease that has afflicted our area.
1968: Ulster Garden Club Discusses Importance of Tree Trimming to Prevent Disease
In the late 1960s, the City of Kingston had a beautification committee that planted many of the trees along city streets that residents enjoy today. They shared insights from an “exhaustive” Washington D.C. study that showed how tree-trimming, tree removal, disease and insect controls and maintenance are necessary to preserve a city’s trees.
1985: Poughkeepsie Dogwoods Hit by Anthracnose
Poughkeepsie’s 4th ward Alderman warned the city of a “silent killer” of dogwoods known as “anthracnose,” also known as lower-branch disease. He said the first sign of the disease is a purple growth on the leaves.
2009–Present: The Emerald Ash Borer Wipes Out Ash Trees in the Hudson Valley
Ash trees once made up 7% of the biomass in New York State’s forests, with white, black, and green ash thriving across the Hudson Valley. That changed rapidly after the arrival of an invasive beetle from East Asia: the emerald ash borer (EAB). First detected in New York in 2009, and in the Hudson Valley by 2010–2012, this tiny insect has brought towering change, leaving behind stark gray skeletons where lush ash canopies once stood. In areas like Kingston, Saugerties, and Phoenicia, mortality rates of mature ash trees have now reached 99%. The EAB lays its eggs in the bark, and once hatched, the larvae burrow through the tree’s vascular system, cutting off water and nutrients. The infestation spreads faster than nearly any other forest pest ever recorded in North America.
Need help navigating tree disease? Our tree trimming and tree removal services can help you either save your tree or safely move on to your next one. Give us a call at (845) 331-6782 to book a consultation today!