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Forestry staff warns of unusual tree stress; 'best guess' is bacterial issue in some ash trees
Summary
Berthoud forestry staff told the Tree Advisory Committee that several ash, locust and catalpa trees are showing stalled or patchy leaf-out this spring; staff said the pattern could be bacterial, will submit samples for testing and asked residents to report unusual trees.
At a June meeting of the Berthoud Tree Advisory Committee, forestry staff said they are seeing a cluster of trees across town with incomplete or delayed leafing and that the pattern is appearing in ash, skyline locust and catalpa varieties. The staff member who delivered the scouting report said the symptoms sometimes affect only portions of a single tree or appear in clusters of neighboring properties.
"My best guess is it's bacterial. Unfortunately, there's no real good cures for bacterial stuff in trees," the staff member said, describing cases in which roughly half of a tree's canopy had not leafed out. The staff member said homeowners in Mary’s Farm and other neighborhoods reported similar symptoms and staff will begin submitting samples and increasing monitoring.
Committee members discussed several possible explanations, including last winter's freeze events, unusually long growing seasons that can accelerate insect cycles, and water-stress patterns that leave some trees more vulnerable. One member noted an observed pattern on Greenwood Drive where south-facing yards had several dead maples while north-facing yards did not, and staff said exposure and irrigation differences may explain those clusters.
Staff asked residents to alert the forestry team if they see trees exhibiting out-of-season or asymmetric leafing so crews can inspect, photo-document and, when appropriate, take samples for laboratory analysis or extension consultation. The staff member said increased insect cycles and warm springs could allow vectors to persist and that staff will consider submitting more tissue samples to diagnostic labs and contacting CSU Extension or regional arboriculture resources for confirmation.
The committee did not take formal action on the report; members requested staff to continue monitoring and to follow up with results of any lab testing or extension findings at a future meeting. The committee adjourned at 7:12 p.m.
