How Do You İdentify A Witches Broom: Symptoms Of Witches’ Broom On Trees And Shrubs

Have you ever noticed those peculiar, broom-like distortions in trees? Maybe it’s in one of your trees, or somewhere nearby. What are these, and are they harmful? To learn more about the telltale signs and symptoms of witches’ broom disease, continue reading.

Witches’ Broom Disease: What Is It?

A sign of stress in woody plants, mostly trees but also affecting shrubs, is called witches’ broom. This encompasses conifers and evergreen species in addition to deciduous trees and shrubs. A deformed mass of twigs and branches that resembles a broom is the result of the stress. These anomalies were called “witches’ brooms” because they were originally made from bundles of twigs and because it was thought that witches were to blame for anything strange.

Why Do Witches Use Brooms?

That being said, witches are not the cause of witches’ broom disease. In actuality, the stress that diseases or pests cause is what causes them. This covers everything from fungi, viruses, and bacterial organisms (phytoplasmas) to nematodes, mites, and aphids. Witches’ brooms can also form as a result of parasitic plants like mistletoe, which stress their host trees. Genetic mutations can also be the cause of some environmental factors, but not all of them. In general, the kind of tree or shrub can be used to determine the causative agent. For example, rust fungus is often the cause of pine brooms. Blackberry bushes and cherry trees are susceptible to fungus infections, which can result in broom growth. Viruses that cause witches’ brooms can affect peach trees and black locusts. Brooms can also occur on hackberry trees, and these are typically brought on by a combination of mites and fungus. Witches’ brooms in willow trees can also be caused by mites. While phytoplasmas cause the disease in ash and elm trees, aphids are typically to blame for these abnormalities in honeysuckle shrubs.

Indications and Signs of a Witch’s Broom

The dense clumps of twigs or branches that resemble brooms and grow from a central source are easily recognized as witches’ brooms. When deciduous trees or shrubs are not in leaf, it is most visible. On the other hand, pine trees and other needled trees may have denser needles. One broom may be seen, or several may be in certain instances. While some might seem big, others might seem tiny and less obvious.

Treatment with Witches’ Brooms

Witches’ broom can last anywhere from a few months to a few years, and although some may find it ugly, the tree or shrub that is affected is not seriously threatened. Witches’ broom has no known cure or treatment at this time. However, if you’d like, you can trim off the broom growth a few inches (7.5 cm) below the point where it first appeared.