It’s Not a Tumor: The Woes of Cedar-Apple Rust
Conifer aficionados–be on the lookout! Your cedars and their cultivars are being exploited by a fungus called cedar-apple rust (Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae). These spiky, red galls are formed due to the pesky fungus settling in bases of needles and twig cracks. The stage of the fungus we commonly see on cedars is the overwintering, stagnant stage that does not hurt the cedar.
But wait… there’s more. The life cycle of the fungus requires two years: spring #1 is for the gall to mature on infected cedars, while spring #2 is for the gall to spread its spores and wreak havoc on nearby apple trees.
Left to right: View of various Cedar-Apple Rust galls. Try to cut them off, before they spread their spores!
Be on the lookout and be proactive…
A way to break this cycle and protect your nearby apple trees from the damaging effects of this fungus is to physically remove the rust galls from cedars using shears, before they have a chance to spread their spores in early spring. Ensuring that fallen leaves and twigs are raked up and disposed of from around the tree can also be beneficial. If the tree has severe infection, it may need to be removed entirely.
…to prevent the spread of Cedar-Apple Rust!
Be on the lookout and be proactive to prevent the spread of Cedar-Apple Rust!
Darien Becker
Environmental Educator, WEC
info@weltycenter.org
608-361-1377