Why Is My Beech Hedge Dying?

Are there any patches of white fluff on the undersides of the leaves that look a little like cotton wool?

Are there any woolly, white tufts or broad strips formed on the trunk and limbs of beech hedge?

Are there circular to horizontal elliptic cankers formed on the bark, cracks are present in the cankered bark?

Are the leaves small, discolored, and drop early, clusters of honey-colored mushrooms may sprout at the base of the plant?

are there any large cankers formed on the major roots and trunk and may extend up the trunk?

Beech woolly aphid is an aphid pest specific to Beech hedges and trees. Under the waxy covering are small, pale-yellow, sap-feeding aphids that exude sticky, sugary honeydew that can result in a secondary infection of sooty mold growing on the sap. Woolly Beech aphid is not a problem on well established Beech hedges, it causes no real distress to the hedge.

The woolly, white tufts and broad strips are the colonies of the beech scale insect that are formed in tiny crevices along with the bark. The beech scale insect is invasive to North America and is host-specific, feeding exclusively on beeches. Physical removal of scale insects by scrubbing trees, high-pressure water, or use of petroleum-based oils, which cover and suffocate scale insects may be used on individual high-value ornamental or yard trees.

Beech bark disease is caused by a fungus Nectria that attacks beeches after a beech scale invasion. The fungus that invades after scale feeding forms red, pimple-like fruiting structures in the cankers. As large areas of bark are affected, the tree is girdled and killed. Control the wooly beech scale. There is no control of the fungus.

Armillaria root rot is a fungal disease that cannot be effectively controlled once it has become established. Infected plants are very prone to wind breakage. Diseased or dead plants should be uprooted and removed. Avoid stressing trees by providing adequate irrigation, fertilization, and insect control.

Bleeding canker is caused by Phytophthora fungus. The fungus enters wounds and succulent roots. Well-defined cankers have reddish-brown margins. Reddish-brown sap oozes from the cankers. Eventually, new leaves remain small and yellow and branches begin to die. Remove the infected tree and do not replace it until the soil has been fumigated and aerated thoroughly.

The new tender spring growths of Beech hedges can be severely damaged by late spring frosts that occur after the leaves have emerged. The affected growth will turn brown and shrivel very quickly after, secondary growth will then be produced a few weeks later and the hedge should recover without any lasting damage done.