1. Drought Stress
   Due to the lack of precipitation in 2002, drought affected all plants. Drought stressed plants are more prone to disease. Continued watering based on weather conditions will reduce drought stress.
2. Sphaeropsis Tip Blight
   Imported pine species are the prime candidates for this fungal disease. However, the disease can affect other conifer species. The fungus on the needles releases spores that readily spread through rain droplets and wind, causing other sections of the plant and surrounding conifers to be affected.
3. Rhizospaera Needle Cast
   A fungal disease targeting Colorado blue spruce normally will not kill the host plant, but will affect the plant aesthetically by reoccurring needle loss from second year needles.
4. Spruce Needle Drop
   Why many spruce lost their needles in 2002 is still unknown. UW-Extension is currently investigating the problem.
5. Herbicide Injury
   Watch when you spray! Herbicide injury made the list due to herbicide applications conducted in unfavorable conditions consisting of sweltering, windy days that cause chemicals to drift into other yards.
6. Root Rot
   Root rot is a general term for the variety of fungal species that create problems for a number of plants. Root rot does what it sounds likes - rots the roots of a plant. The primary causes of root rot are poor drainage and overly moist conditions for plant material.
7. Anthracnose
   A general term that is applicable to any fungal disease causing leaf damage. Conditions result in the unsightly appearance of leaves by curling, wilting, discoloration, and/or imperfections. It is a purely cosmetic problem but a horror to a perfectionist.
8. Dutch Elm Disease
   A largely recognized problem on main streets everywhere, Dutch elm disease is fatal to the American elm. The elm bark beetle and root grafts transport the disease from tree to tree. The disease affects the xylem (water conducting system) in the tree that eventually leads to the death of the tree.
9. Oak Wilt
   On the rise in Wisconsin, oak wilt is fatal to the trees in the red oak group and a problem for trees in the white oak group. Trees in the red oak group include red, black, and pin oak, which can be distinguished by the pointed leaf lobes. Trees in the white oak group include white, bur, and swamp white oak, which have rounded leaf lobes. Sudden wilting of leaves at the crown of the tree is a possible sign of oak wilt. The best preventative is not to prune any oaks in the early spring through early summer but to wait until fall and winter.
10. Verticillium Wilt
    Verticillium wilt is a vascular wilt disease that thrives on host plants and in the soil. It affects a multitude of deciduous species, but evergreens are resistant. The parasitic disease enters the host through wounds. The leaves on branches die, followed by the branch itself. There are deciduous species that are resistant and can be safely planted in contaminated soils. These species include beech, birch, ginkgo, hackberry, hawthorn, honeylocust, mountain ash, white and burr oak, serviceberry, sycamore, and willow.

The best way to prevent pests and disease is through proper care for your plant and gardens. Stressed plants are more susceptible to disease. There are steps you can take to minimize stress on plants.

• Regulation of watering prevents drought and over-watering
• Leave adequate room for the root zone
• Avoid soil compaction and major soil disturbances
• Correct poor drainage issues
• Remove diseased leaf litter promptly and dispose of it properly

Information obtained through Horticultural UW-Extension of Dane County. Consult a specialist to correctly identify pest and disease problems. Check out the website for more information at www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/dane.