Oaks at Jeanes Hospital Successfully Treated for Bacterial Leaf Scorch

Drive down any street with Oak trees or just look in your own back yard. Many Oaks are infected with Bacterial Leaf Scorch (BLS), a serious, often fatal disease. “There is no cure for BLS,” says Drew Slousky, Giroud Vice President. “However, treatment with Oxytetracycline, an antibiotic, can dramatically improve a tree’s chances of survival.”

The proof is in the results. Giroud has been treating the Oaks at Jeanes Hospital for BLS for several years. The Oaks at Jeanes now display full crowns of lush green leaves. Just across the street, untreated oaks show BLS decline.

Bob Dugan, Head Groundskeeper at Jeanes, explains the treatment for BLS: “Bacterial Leaf Scorch is the tree version of cholesterol in humans. The bacteria clog a tree’s vessels. Oxytetracycline slows down the growth of the bacteria which enables nutrients and water to travel up and down the tree.”

Now is the best time to test for BLS. If your tree is infected, treatment must be applied in early Spring when the bacteria is most vulnerable.