Leave Leaf Galls Alone

By Phran Novelli

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - What in the world is that? The other day I found an oak leaf with three big knobs across it. As you can see in the photo, it looked like it was pregnant with gumballs.

They're leaf galls; abnormal growths on a plant leaf that can be caused by a variety of insects, mites, diseases or fungi.

So what do you need to do if you see leaf galls? Relax.

The good news is leaf galls aren't fatal to established trees so you don't need to do anything.

If you insist on doing something, you can rake up and destroy fallen leaves.

Severe infestations of twig galls can sometimes require chemicals for specimen plants, but you'd want to call in an expert. Treating trees of any size is tricky. It requires precise identification of the troublemaker first and then careful timing or you won't kill the pest anyway. So, ask an arborist for advice about that.

But in general for leaf galls, there's nothing at all you need to do. Just the kind of (easy and organic!) answer a lazy gardener like me loves to hear.