How to Identify Bacterial Leaf Scorch Killing Haddonfield Trees

The Haddonfield Shade Tree Commission says a disease is eating away at two of every 10 oak trees in the borough.

Bacterial leaf scorch (BLS) is a disease that affects oak trees, particularly red and pin oaks.

It's a big deal in a town with nearly 10,000 trees in the public right of way, and an estimated 10,000 or more on private property within this 2.5-square-mile borough. Most of the public trees are oaks, which grow 50 feet tall or higher at maturity.

Haddonfield is designated as a Tree City USA town, a designation from the national Arboretum Society for towns with a significant canopy of municipal trees. That canopy could be threatened in coming years if up to 20 percent of borough oak trees are taken down because of the disease.