Why bother knowing the warning signs of an unhealthy tree? Although they are durable enough to outlive generations, trees can still be sensitive. Storms and extreme temperatures can cause health issues for plants, and human activity can add stress when we compact or dig into the soil around tree roots.
Identifying a sick tree is essential as it can cause property damage or even spread sickness to other nearby specimens. Read on for a look at three ways you can spot a tree that isn’t healthy:
Sign #1: Flaws in Tree Structure
Sometimes, the eye test is all you need. Inspecting a tree’s branches and trunk can uncover issues, particularly if you focus on the structure. Patches of missing bark and deep cracks in larger branches are warning signs.
These physical flaws can be due to ineffective pruning, bad climate, or plant-based illnesses. Other observable issues to watch out for include:
- Cavities, or holes in trunks and branches, could indicate a dying tree.
- Branches that are missing leaves when it isn’t winter could mean disease.
- Unusual color changes in leaves might come from an insect infestation.
Sign #2: Mushrooms On or Around Trees
Decaying trees can be challenging to identify because rotting usually begins on the inside. Fortunately, there’s still a way to figure out if there’s something wrong. Mushrooms might be a popular pizza topping, but they’re a severe warning sign for trees. If you notice fungi growing on your plant life, it could already be close to death.
The fungus can remain active for a very long time before it begins to form fruiting bodies, the visible mushrooms. If you spot mushrooms on your tree, it could have been decaying for years without you noticing. To be certain, closely inspect the branches and trunk for soft or crumbling wood sections.
Sign #3: Blotches, Bands, and Bleached Wood
If you know what to look for, some tree illnesses are more common than others, and their characteristics make them relatively easy to pinpoint. These infections include anthracnose, dothistroma needle blight, and armillaria root rot.
Anthracnose is identifiable by blotches of dead areas on leaves, which could be black, purple, or brown. Dothistroma symptoms include yellow and darker green bands on the tree’s needles. As for Armillaria, the tree root disease could be a cause if you notice areas of wood that appear lighter and bleached.
Protecting Your Trees
If you break a twig off a tree and see green tissue inside, your tree is still alive. On the other hand, if you find the inside looking dark and dry, the branch is dead. Keep on testing, and if you find the problem elsewhere, you could be dealing with a dead tree. If the tree is still alive, prune the branches you tested and clean away any dead wood you find.
Regular pruning and attentive care will help, but good tree service is invaluable. For more information about the warning signs of an unhealthy tree or to obtain professional tree services, connect with our experts at Engram’s Tree Service today.