SLC Urban Forestry has been working with partners from the University of Utah and Utah State University to study trees in our neighborhoods, including Sycamore and London plane trees, for a fungal-like disease known as anthracnose.
A total of 600 trees are being studied —100 trees are in a control group, while 500 received a bug spray treatment this spring. Treatment will also be applied in 2026 and 2027.
As expected, many trees showed signs of the disease in the summer and fall. It’s still too early in the study to tell if the trees’ conditions will improve.
157 trees were sampled in July and September this year (and will continue to be sampled in May, July, and September 2026 and 2027. The trees in this sample group showed signs of improvement compared to last year.
Additionally, one-third of the 500 trees being studied (164 trees in Yalecrest) received a treatment to kill fungi. Another group will receive the treatment in 2026, and the final group in 2027.
Check back for updates on this study.
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