The Newport County Historic Preservation Society (RI) recently hired Bartlett Tree Experts — No. 6 at the 2024 LM150 List — to contribute to the protection of the historic and valuable beech trees.

At the beginning of the summer, researchers from the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories announced the development of two successful treatment options for beech leaf disease: a foliar application for smaller trees and a root injection for large trees.

Matthew Borden, Ph.D., a Bartlett University plant pathologist on the research team, said the disease spread rapidly.

“Where containment and eradication are no longer possible, we are striving to develop integrated pest management tools and techniques to protect individual trees or groups of vulnerable trees,” he said. “Our research team is now confident that we can protect many beech trees in places such as landscapes and arboretums, where beech trees are valued as shade trees and historic specimens, and represent genetically diverse collections that should be preserved for future work.”

Treating Beech Leaf Disease in Newport

Newport, RI is known for its collections of American and European beech trees. In 2023, the Preservation Society of Newport County noted an increase in tree mortality due to beech leaf disease. The society sought the expertise of Bartlett Tree Experts to help contain the disease. Bartlett Tree Experts recommended an integrated pest management program to support beech health, and Bartlett’s arborists provided treatments to control beech leaf disease.

“Having worked with beech crops in New England for over 40 years, I can’t imagine not seeing beech trees in New England’s forests and landscapes,” said Jim Ingram, president and COO of Bartlett Tree Experts and a licensed arborist in Rhode Island. “Beech trees are beneficial to many other coexisting forest tree and ground cover species. They are also an important species for wildlife and the integrity of New England’s environment as a whole. I am very grateful to the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories and our eight doctoral students who have developed scientific treatment solutions to protect our beautiful beech trees.”

In addition, they identified and treated other common problems in beech trees when necessary. Some examples included treating Phytophthora root rot, beech bark disease, beech scale, and other secondary pests and pathogens. Finally, the team helped implement soil care and cultural practices, including proper mulching. These practices help beech trees to better resist stressors and the effects of beech leaf disease.

One year later, the improved health of the beech trees in Newport is clearly visible.

“Without Bartlett Tree Experts’ scientific tree care solutions during the era of beech leaf disease, it is entirely possible that Newport’s valuable beech collection would be lost,” said Trudy Coxe, CEO and executive director of the Preservation Society of Newport County.

A remarkable success story is the magnificent weeping beech at the entrance to Chateau-sur-Mer. Unfortunately, the tree suffered from beech leaf disease and was in poor condition. However, it is now showing signs of improving health.

“Many of its leaves were shriveled, misshapen and lacked tissue between the veins; some buds never developed into leaves at all,” Coxe said. “This disease, caused by a microscopic worm called a nematode, can kill a mature beech within six years. Today, this tree and many other beech trees in the Newport Mansions Arboretum look much healthier thanks to treatment by Bartlett Tree Experts, one of our conservation partners. Bartlett reports that of our 250 beech trees, 60 percent are in good condition, 31 percent are in fair condition and 9 percent are in poor condition. That’s better news than we could have hoped for two years ago when beech leaf blight arrived here.”