The beech leaf disease is a disease that has come to affect the tree population here in Western New York over the last 3 or so years. One of our main goals this year at Bradley Tree is to help push the idea of what it means to preserve trees and educate people on tree preservation. We feel it’s necessary to give a run-through of what this disease is to apply to that narrative. Tree diseases are a big cause for tree removal in general, and while that’s a part of our job to remove them at Bradley Tree, it’s also our job to preserve those that are getting affected so that you can keep your trees long-term going into the future if that’s something you want.
In this blog, we will break down how to identify and treat beech leaf disease, what trees it affects, and when in the season it’s most abundant.
The Details Behind Where The Disease Came From
Back in May of 2023, WGRZ on Channel 2 put out an article speaking to Western New Yorkers about beech leaf disease. During this time, the New York State Department of Conservation (DEC), which is tasked with improving and protecting New York State’s natural resources and environment, noted that as the summer time was starting up, it made it perfect for people to start inspecting their trees for the disease.
This disease began spreading across multiple states from Ohio in 2012, with New York being one of them. Over half of the counties in the state, specifically in the western and southeastern regions, have been affected the most. As we approach springtime with summer just ahead, it feels like the perfect time to address it. Many other tree and landscaping companies have spoken about it over the past few years, and given the details behind the disease, we need to discuss its future as we continue educating people on tree preservation.
A Guide to the Beech Leaf Disease
Photo Credit: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/beech-leaf-disease-at-cape-cod-national-seashore.htm
So now that we have an idea of when the tree disease came to Buffalo and Western New York and the regions it affects, let’s explore what it is, how to identify it, when in the year it arrives, and how to treat the disease. The disease is caused by a type of microscopic roundworm that feeds inside the leaf buds of beech trees.
American Beech trees are a common form of hardwood tree across the Western New York region. The disease was first detected in North America along Lake Erie in the Ohio woodlands in 2012, as we noted, and has been present in large numbers since 2018, harming the beech tree population, making this blog VERY important.
How to Identify the Disease
With that in mind, how do you go about identifying the disease on your trees? The way you identify the disease starts with the picture you see above. The disease shows a discoloration and a thickening between the veins of the leaves. It’s very distinct and specific; it would not be hard to miss if you came across it while inspecting your tree. The leaves might also look deformed and smaller than they usually do.
That’s what it looks like, and some symptoms come with it that will affect a tree if you’ve never noticed the disease via the look of the leaves. This disease can transfer over into your branches, particularly in the lower part of your tree’s canopy rather than the upper part.
It’s been shown that higher humidity and lower light penetration into the tree are what give way to more production of the disease on the tree. In terms of how long it takes for the disease to kill it, 2-10 years is a margin noticed more often than not, and can be lower if the beech tree is smaller in size.
When the Disease Arrives and How to Treat the Trees
We pointed out at the beginning of the blog that back in 2023, the article from WGRZ was written in May, which is a closer time for when the disease will start to bloom on beech trees. However, a part of the lifecycle of the disease manifests itself during winter as the worm grows inside the trees, starts moving around in spring, and then goes to work in the summer, creating the disease on the leaves and other parts of the trees. We want to be able to get ahead of that range of time while we are still in winter right now and warn you of what to expect in the next several months.
The final thing to discuss is the treatment methods we recommend if we are not on hand to assist. A good process of applying mulch and watering the root areas of the tree is the best way to keep things healthy. Mulch helps regulate the stress on a tree, along with its temperature and how much moisture it retains from watering.
What we come in to help with is tree pruning. You want to prune your trees around the spots that are most affected by the disease so that it doesn’t spread. We talk more about why tree pruning is important on our website, and if you’re looking to learn more about this tree disease and how to reduce the tapeworms that cause it, reach out to us, and we will be happy to assist!
Beech Tree and Tree Disease FAQ
How can I tell if my beech tree has Beech Leaf Disease?
Early inspection of your trees to detect signs of death or disease is critical for long-term tree preservation, something we at Bradley Tree are taking seriously moving into 2026. The most common signs of beech leaf disease on your tree are listed below:
- Banding between leaf veins (stripes or bands you see between leaf veins)
- Smaller or deformed leaves
- Thinning canopy (often starting in the lower branches, not the top part)
- Discoloration in the leaf (specifically through a yellow color or dark brown when it’s at its worst)