Tree problems · Disease

Laurel Wilt: signs and what to do

Laurel Wilt is a tree disease, often seen on sassafras, redbay and swamp bay, avocado. Look for: sudden wilting of leaves, often reddish or brown, that stay on the branches.

General information, not a diagnosis. A certified arborist or your county extension office can confirm.

Disease
Sassafras
Redbay and swamp bay (not on our species list)
Avocado (a crop host)

Signs to look for

Tick what you see. More ticks make it more likely, but only an on-site look can confirm.

Sudden wilting of leaves, often reddish or brown, that stay on the branches
Dark streaks in the outer wood when bark is peeled back
Many small beetle holes with tiny toothpick-like tubes of sawdust on the trunk
Crown dieback that moves through a tree over weeks to months
Several nearby trees of the same kind dying at the same time
Dead trees with brown leaves still hanging on

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Season

Wilting can show at any time of year in warm areas. It is often easiest to see when many trees in a stand turn brown at once.

How it spreads

An ambrosia beetle (the redbay ambrosia beetle) carries a fungus (Harringtonia lauricola) into the wood. The fungus blocks water flow and the tree wilts. Long-distance spread has happened through moved firewood and wood products.

Where it is found

Laurel wilt has been found in parts of the southeastern United States, where its host trees grow. Check your state official map; ranges change.

Official sources

What to do

1
Photograph the leaves, the trunk holes and the dark streaks under the bark.
2
Do not move firewood or wood chips from sassafras, redbay or related trees.
3
Call your extension office or state forestry agency to report it and ask about testing.
4
Ask a certified arborist to check, since other problems can cause wilt too.
5
Follow local advice on handling and disposing of dead trees, and keep infected wood on site if told to.

Safety first: do not climb, do not cut near power lines and do not use a chainsaw on storm-loaded wood. Call the utility for downed lines and 911 if anyone is in danger.

Prevention

Buy firewood where you burn it. Keep trees watered and free of wounds. Do not move wood from the laurel family between places.

When to call a pro

Call a pro if a sassafras or related tree wilts quickly, shows many beetle holes, or is dying near a building or walkway.

Not sure who to call? Read how to hire a tree service or check is my tree dangerous?

Trees it affects

Usually seen on: Sassafras, Redbay and swamp bay (not on our species list), Avocado (a crop host).

Sassafras

See all species in our tree library, or pick a tougher tree with the tree picker.

For tree companies

How to explain laurel wilt to a customer

Explain that this disease affects the laurel family, so many yards will never see it. If you suspect it, say you are checking and will follow local reporting steps. Do not promise a cure.

Send this page to the customer after your visit so they can read the signs in plain words. See also selling plant health care and the job photo checklist.

Questions

What is laurel wilt?

It is a fatal wilt disease of trees in the laurel family, spread by a small ambrosia beetle that carries a fungus.

Does it kill sassafras?

Sassafras is a host and can be killed by it. Redbay and swamp bay are hit especially hard.

Is my avocado tree at risk?

Avocado is in the laurel family and can be affected. Growers in affected regions should follow local agriculture department advice.

Can fungicide stop it?

Some treatments are studied for high-value trees, but there is no cure for a sick tree. Ask your extension office.

Can I burn or move wood from a sick tree?

Do not move it far. Keep wood local and follow your state's rules and advice.

Is it a danger to people?

No. The danger is a dead tree that can drop limbs or fall, so have it checked.

Can Lirevon diagnose laurel wilt on my tree?

No. Lirevon is a remote marketing team for tree service companies and does not do tree work. This page is general information, not a diagnosis. A certified arborist or your county extension office can confirm what is wrong with your tree.

How do I find a good local pro for this?

Search Google Maps for certified arborists or tree services near you, read their reviews and ask for proof of insurance. Get two or three written quotes. Our guide on how to hire a tree service lists the questions to ask.

When customers spot laurel wilt, they call

Make sure someone answers. Missed-call text-back, lead follow-up, booking and review requests, set up for you. See our services and pricing.

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