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Draper Journal

Sycamores struggling for survival

Oct 07, 2024 09:59AM ● By Mimi Darley Dutton

Trees like these lining roads such as Vestry, Rambling and Highland Drive are struggling to survive as a result of anthracnose, an aggressive fungus that’s expensive to treat with no guarantee of success. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)

It sounds like something out of a horror movie; a fungus called anthracnose is affecting trees in Draper, especially sycamores, including those lining Vestry, Highland and Rambling roads. The city is struggling to keep trees alive because it’s an aggressive ailment that’s costly to treat with no guarantee of curing it.

“It can affect many species, but sycamores are very susceptible to it, and that’s primarily what we have in Draper. A majority are infected to some degree with it,” said Rhett Ogden, Parks and Recreation director. Colorado State University’s Extension Service indicates anthracnose is the most serious disease of sycamore trees and the American sycamore is much more susceptible. The London plane tree is more resistant.

In simple terms, anthracnose is leaf, shoot or twig blight. “Sycamore anthracnose is most common during the cool wet weather of spring and is often mistaken for frost damage. As new leaves unfold, they crinkle and turn brown, wilt rapidly and fall. Dark and sunken dead areas form along the veins of older leaves eventually expanding to include the entire leaf,” says the Missouri Botanical Garden website. 

Ogden has worked for the city for 16 years. He first became aware of the ailment in 2019 when it was noticed in the area of Timoney Road above Vestry. “In 2021, we started noticing it along Vestry and Rambling roads. It’s pretty much all over Draper now,” he said. It’s also in Sandy, Riverton, Lehi and other cities. “It’s common in this area and we’re all dealing with it. A Riverton City employee estimated 80% of sycamores in Riverton have it,” Ogden said. 

Draper City has spent money trying to save the trees by treating them with twice yearly injections, an expensive service with no guarantee. “It’s debatable the return on investment. The disease is so internal, it’s hard to see an immediate result,” Ogden said. 

The problem of dying trees in Draper is compounded because, when neighborhoods were built decades ago and trees were simultaneously planted, the same trees were chosen. “One of the problems we have is the monoculture. They planted all sycamores. Since they’re susceptible to this disease, it wipes them all out, or at least they all get infected,” Ogden said. 

Another problem from the past is that many park strips planted according to old city code are too narrow to successfully sustain tree growth. Tree roots have damaged sidewalks and city employees have tried trimming roots, which often hurts the tree, in an attempt to save sidewalks.

In recent years, city code has been updated in an attempt to combat past problems. “To be fair, the developers in the 90s were following code at the time. Now we have the Street Tree Guide and only those species are allowed. We’ve tried to give guidelines as to what trees do better in pressurized irrigation. We’ve worked with the Tree Committee to educate the public about getting the right tree for the right soil and the right space. We’ve certainly tried to do better going forward from the problems that started 25 years ago, so that’s progress,” Ogden said. 

According to Community Development Director Jennifer Jastremsky, city code does require approved trees in park strips, but state law indicates the city can’t require trees be planted in park strips that are five feet wide or less. “We do require they’re maintained with plantings, rock, or some kind of cover,” she said. 

There is something everyone can do to help prevent the spread of anthracnose because it’s not just affecting city-owned trees. The city forester has seen it on private property as well. “One of the best treatments people can do is don’t leave the leaves on the ground, especially infected sycamores. Make sure you rake up the leaves and throw them away. Don’t let them sit and leach into the ground. Also, prune the infected area if you see discoloration or the leaves curling up. It’s also good to get with a tree company and have them injected with a fungicide to treat the tree internally. Twice per year is best,” Ogden said. 

Councilmember Tasha Lowery raised the issue of dying trees at a recent council meeting. “We as a council are actively looking for solutions as we simultaneously try to cure and save the trees we can, and add new plantings as necessary,” she said. λ