By Alex Miller
ISA Certified Arborist® OH-7168A
September 4, 2025
If you’ve got a beautiful beech (Fagus) tree in your yard or your property backs up to one of central Ohio’s native woodlands, then you’ve likely noticed just how special these trees are. Their smooth gray bark, golden amber fall foliage, and nut production for local wildlife make them a favorite in both natural and landscaped settings. But in recent years, a troubling new disease has been silently making its way through Ohio’s forests, beech leaf disease (BLD).
Beech tree leaves infected by beech leaf disease.
First spotted in northeastern Ohio in 2012, BLD has quickly spread across the eastern U.S. and into parts of Canada. It’s been linked to a microscopic worm, called a nematode, that attacks beech leaves and buds. Beech leaf disease is easily recognizable by its distinctive dark green bands between the leaf veins. In the fall, the affected leaf bands can appear yellow. As the infection worsens, the leaves thicken and take on a leathery feel and may begin to curl while the nematodes spread to new leaf buds. This damage prevents the leaves from photosynthesizing properly. Repeated damage can kill young beech trees in 2 to 5 years. Larger, more mature beech trees seem to be able to hold out longer, but are still affected. Some have shown to begin losing branches from the bottom of the canopy and work upwards year over year.
Another example of beech leaves affected by BLD.
Fortunately for Franklin County and our surrounding neighbors, no infected beech trees have been observed so far. However, Delaware and Licking county residents should be on high alert because Morrow, Coshocton, and Muskingum counties are all actively dealing with BLD moving through their forests and landscapes, and it’s not showing any signs of slowing down. Thankfully, Ohio State University plant pathology professor Enrico Bonello, and assistant professor Kayla Perry are hard at work developing better diagnostic tools and treatment plans to better identify and counteract beech leaf disease. Specifically, Benello has come up with ways to identify infected but not yet symptomatic beech trees, and Perry has promising research suggesting that nematicides and potassium fertilizers can at least slow the progression, if not cure the tree. Further research is still needed, and rest assured, we at Russell Tree Experts are following them closely as the knife that is BLD plunges ever deeper towards the heart of Ohio. As a resident of Central Ohio, especially those of you in Delaware and Licking counties, you can help by taking a look the next time you see a beech tree and reporting any sightings of beech leaf disease to your local OSU extension.
American beech trees (Fagus grandifolia) transitioning into beautiful, fall color!
If you’ve ever enjoyed the shade of a beech tree, admired its golden amber leaves in the fall, or watched birds and squirrels dart through its branches, you already know how much these trees contribute to life in central Ohio. BLD is a serious threat. By staying informed, taking care of the trees we have, and supporting ongoing research, we can protect these iconic trees for future generations. Even if you don’t have a beech tree in your own yard, you’ve probably passed by one in your neighborhood, a nearby metro park, along a bike trail, or at a local school. Now’s the time to look up, take notice, and lend a hand (or a rake) in the fight against beech leaf disease. As always, for a free tree work quote by one of our 25+ ISA Certified Arborists®, give our local office staff a call at (614) 895-7000 or visit RussellTreeExperts.com/Quote!
ADDITIONAL ARBOR ED™ ARTICLES!
Alex Miller I Regional Manager, Russell Tree Experts
Alex joined Russell Tree Experts in 2021 and has been in the green industry since 2020. He is an ISA Certified Arborist®, EHAT certified, CPR and first aid certified, OSHA 10 certified, and holds an ODA commercial pesticide license. Alex’s favorite tree is a magnolia tree! When not at RTE, he enjoys rock climbing and his favorite movie series: The Lord of the Rings!