- What’s going on?
Currently the Texas Department of Agriculture, working with the USDA, has issued a quarantine
area in northeast Richmond, Texas to isolate a localized outbreak of Citrus Canker Disease. This
factsheet is designed to answer common questions and provide action steps for those in need.
- What is it?
Citrus Canker Disease is caused by a bacterial pathogen. It is a serious disease of all citrus cultivars and some citrus relatives. For more information, visit the link below. http://tinyurl.com/jb4degq
- Where is it?
The current quarantine area is located in Richmond, and parts of Sugar Land, along Highway 6 surrounding a stretch of FM 1464 at West Airport Blvd. For more information, visit the link below. http://tinyurl.com/hu535ay
- What should I do?
If you live close to this area and have citrus or citrus relatives planted in your landscape, there are several maintenance and prevention strategies we recommend.
- Sanitation Practices – Rake up fallen leaves, branches, twigs, and fruit. Double bag these materials and send to landfill, do not compost. Keep the understory mulched well.
- Avoiding Wounds – Avoid unnecessary pruning or other physical damage done by landscape equipment. Further, use strategies to minimize bird, rodent, or insect damage to trees and fruit.
- Tree Health – Encouraging overall tree health is always a good practice. For an overview of recommended citrus care visit: http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/fruit-nut/fact-sheets/citrus/
- Chemical Prevention – Use approved insecticides to minimize common insect damage. Preventive bactericides common for citrus are copper products. Look for neutralized copper sulfate or copper hydroxide products. Each must be labeled for use on citrus.
- Who should I contact?
If you suspect your trees to be infected or if you have initial questions about this disease, contact your Fort Bend County Extension Office. Either your local county agent or a certified master gardener hotline representative will eagerly assist you. Please DO NOT transport plant samples (to our office, local nurseries, garden centers, etc.). Instead, we ask that you take representative photos and email those to us for review. If we deem it necessary, we will recommend further steps for you to take.
Click here to download a printable version!!!
