The leaves of my Horse Chestnut tree are covered in brown patches?

Question

I think it is this new infection. Will the tree die? Should I burn the leaves this year instead of putting them on the compost heap?

This is not the normal autum colour and far too early

Answer 1

The tree sounds like it has got this infection Horse chestnut leaf miner, it won't kill the trees off immediately, but these longer, hotter summers are providing a perfect climate for the beast. . The miner, as the common name suggests, burrows an s-shaped mine between the upper and lower leaf surface. At first, the mine is translucent and if you hold the leaf to the light you can see the miner wriggling about. After a while, the mine turns brown and leaf begins to dry, eventually turning upward and inward, so that by August the tree looks positively autumnal. The adult is a moth that appears in April and has chestnut brown wings with white stripes. The best method for control at home is to remove all the fallen leaves in autumn and destroy them. Most domestic compost heaps won't get hot enough to kill the eggs, so it's best to put it all in the bin.

Answer 2

If horse chestnuts in Massachusetts get a disease it is usually Anthracnose. That means, Yes, rake and trash bag or burn the leaves, use a copper based fungicide around the tree where the leaves have fallen. If the tree is not HUGE than, if you can, spray a copper based fungicide into the dormant buds of the tree.
Of course, all that aside it could be as simple as leaf scorch and just water it well until it goes really dormant this winter.
Unless the Anthracnose starts too early in the season then neither disease is fatal to the tree.

Answer 3

Guignardia blotch of Aesculus:

Pathogen: Gunignardia aesculi

This disease creates a serious aesthetic problem on most horse chestnut and buckeye species. However, since much of the annual growth is completed before symptoms become severe, damage to the plant is minimal. Leaf symptoms first appear as water-soaked areas which turn reddish-brown to brown with yellow borders. These lesions coalesce, causing large blotches which curl the leaves. By August the whole plant appears scorched. The fungus overwinters in fallen leaves, producing spores for new infections in spring, so removal of leaves should be thorough. As with other leaf spot diseases, infection is enhanced by moist conditions. Improve air circulation to hasten leaf drying. If pesticide treatment is desired, apply a labeled fungicide containing mancozeb or chlorothalonil at bud break during wet springs. Reapply at intervals specified on the label until conditions are no longer moist. For new plantings, select plants with resistance to Guignardia blotch such as bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parvifolia).

Answer 4

I was told it could be due to the substantial amount of rain we've had this year...in my area any way. The cold weather will most likely kill any infection if you are in a cold area...like New England. It's been a wacky year weather-wise...there is all kinds of new, strange things occuring with nature! Good luck! Oh...to be on the safe side...I would burn them...just in case!

Answer 5

Horse Chestnut trees do not turn a pretty fall color.When they lose their leaves they just turn a ugly dried up brown color. This is normal. horse chesnut trees are the very first trees to lose their leaves.

Answer 6

Autumn is coming, it's a natural phenomenon.

Answer 7

Check for bag worms... they are horrible this year where I'm at. They would have a similar effect.

Answer 8

does this happen about this time every year? if so it's because it's as good as Autumn

Answer 9

yep for sure, burn an try clipping back if u can xx

Answer 10

Its almost autumn!