The maple tree is always looking her best at this time of the year. I took this picture over the weekend at a nearby park where my kids were collecting leaves.I'm heartbroken that many of the trees in my neighbourhood are suffering from a fungus called tar spot. I did some research to find out what it is. Apparently, the big black spots that appear on the beautiful fall leaves do not kill the tree, they only make it look ugly. This is what you call a cosmetic problem.In order to prevent the spread of tar spot, people need to dispose of the leaves quickly when they fall. They can't compost the leaves because that will just make the fungus spread. The leaves have to be destroyed by heat. I don't think many people know this. If something isn't done, tar spot will continue to tarnish our country's pride and joy.Note: Click here to see what tar spot looks like.
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@ Tara, in Belgian's villages, we have to take care of this as the municipality doesn't help so, I usually collected most of them and make some compost, but I guess it's was bad idea. The problem is also that, there are so many trees (garden is huge) that it's almost impossible to collect them all, wind blows them from one side to the other.
You're lucky in Canada, you have a collection crew who pick the bags. Canada is so well organized :))
@Manuela I think the best thing to do is just collect them asap. The spores from the leaves that are left on the ground spread the disease for the following season. I'm not sure how leaves are collected in your country. In ours, we brown bag them and a collection crew picks them up. It might be worth calling your collectors to ask how to dispose of them.
Your explanation gives an important value, Tara. As of life, something bad should not be allowed to grow and spread and even thrive around us. That's why the maple leaf is a symbol of the pride of your country. Your founding fathers gave a value that is worth contemplating the meaning of the maple leaf ... It has been the centrepiece of the National Flag of Canada.
Ohh, thanks for the tips Tara. Is this the same for all kinds of trees ? I have noticed that, in my garden in Belgium, many of the leaves of different trees have those black spots too. I can't imagine I have to collect and to burn them all, that would be a huge task ! The most important is to know the trees won't die of that illness.
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@ Tara, in Belgian's villages, we have to take care of this as the municipality doesn't help so, I usually collected most of them and make some compost, but I guess it's was bad idea. The problem is also that, there are so many trees (garden is huge) that it's almost impossible to collect them all, wind blows them from one side to the other.
You're lucky in Canada, you have a collection crew who pick the bags. Canada is so well organized :))
Your explanation gives an important value, Tara. As of life, something bad should not be allowed to grow and spread and even thrive around us. That's why the maple leaf is a symbol of the pride of your country. Your founding fathers gave a value that is worth contemplating the meaning of the maple leaf ... It has been the centrepiece of the National Flag of Canada.
thanks for the info, great description!