September 12, 2018 You may not have the training and skills to diagnose the health of a tree, but if you see there is a problem, it may be time to hire a certified arborist. When you notice health issues with your trees, it is important to take quick action to seek the necessary treatment. Your trees’ health can deteriorate rapidly if you don’t pursue professional help. Here are a few tips on identifying declining health in trees that will give you a head start on providing quality treatment. Finding out what is plaguing your trees will likely require the skills of a certified arborist, so the following information is for educational purposes only. Act quickly to save your trees from declining health that may spread to other trees. Common Tree Health Questions One of the most common questions we hear at Front Range Arborists is, “Is there something wrong with my tree?” Clients often know there is something wrong with a tree, but confirmation from a certified arborist provides peace of mind. For instance, a tree may appear diseased if it has spotty, yellowing leaves and branches that are dying. Clients understandably want to know what the issue is and how it will affect the tree’s overall health. Another problem that comes to our attention regularly is new growth dying off quickly that is on a seemingly sick tree. An unhealthy maple may experience sickness for a period of years without dying. However, it is important to hire a certified arborist to assess the tree and provide any necessary treatment to bring the tree back to optimum health. One sick branch does not necessarily mean that a tree is destined to die. Front Range Arborists has provided services to numerous clients who are concerned that sick branches are a sign of declining tree health. It is easy to recognize when older trees are unhealthy as clients have watched them grow from year to year. If leaves start yellowing or curling up, it may indicate that a tree is suffering from a disease or other health issues. Home and business owners are particularly concerned with preserving the health of their trees as they add to the aesthetic of their property. Identifying Unhealthy Trees If you are someone who regularly inspects your trees, identifying sickness will not pose much of a challenge. A tree may look strange at first glance, but it’s also important to inspect the tree to get a better idea of its condition. The first step is to visually inspect the tree to find any abnormalities that may indicate the tree is suffering from health problems. When inspecting a tree, you should start from the ground up. Examine the roots for damage and check the surrounding ground to see if it has heaved up. If there is any decay, fungi or mushroom growth around the base of the tree, it is a potential sign of health problems. Next, you will want to inspect the root ball, which is the part of the trunk above the soil. If there is any superficial damage, such as peeling bark or deep slits, you are likely dealing with a sick tree. Moving up the tree, check for decay, swelling, holes or any other abnormalities. The last part of your inspection involves looking at the canopy of the tree. You may see dead or dying branches with no leaves. Branches that have grown together and look weak, an overly thick canopy, spotted or wilting leaves, dying bark, and oddly leaning limbs are the most noticeable signs in the canopy of a tree that is suffering ill health. Tree Health Problems By this time you will have identified that there is something not right with your tree. Now it is time to establish the most likely cause. Tree leaves that have dark spots, discoloration or an odd shape may indicate leaf disease. If you want to improve your tree’s health, you will need to learn about tree leaf disease and treatment. If the trees are tall, it is best to hire a certified arborist to carry out any treatment safely. Sometimes the problem is a result of insect infestations in spring or summer. Check for pests and learn how to combat them in order to protect your tree. Some pests can ravage a tree, leaving you with a shell that may eventually die. If you can’t track the problem to pests, it is possible that the tree is suffering from an infection. Some infections target certain trees and can spread quickly. If you suspect that an infection is the cause of your tree woes, you don’t want to mess around. Call Front Range Arborists for a professional assessment. For all your tree health problems, Front Range Arborists will provide the services of a tree care professional. Call today for a free estimate or to discuss your concerns. Find out more about how Front Range Arborists can help provide services to residential, commercial, and municipal institutions with all of our Tree Services: Tree Pruning Stump and Tree Removal Shrub Pruning Fire Mitigation Fertilization Winter Watering Pest Control Tree Preservation
