How to Tell If a Tree Is Sick: Signs and Solutions

Have you thought to yourself, What does a tree look like when it gets sick? Is this an actual thing? Well Friend, It sure is a thing. Trees are a lot like low-maintenance animals. Trees live fifty to hundreds of years and most people don’t think about a tree’s overall health once they have matured into the beauties that they are. There are a ton of things that can make trees sick just like there are plenty of things that cause us, humans, to become sick.

Trees get sick like us humans do. Take what you know about storms. Damage and injury can easily occur during a storm, especially to trees. Like us, trees can have what we like to call ” Low Immune Systems”. Trees are highly susceptible to disease. This means that if they are lacking nutrients or water, they may not be strong enough to fight off disease. Pests are also a reason why trees can become ill. Pests take over trees and cause them to lose their bark and decay occurs. Environmental changes and physical damage are the most common issues that cause tree disease. And since most people aren’t paying close attention and inspecting their trees regularly for illness or any signs of a non-healthy tree, these problems become severe.

Weeping, moist, discolored, or flaking bark are all indicators that a tree is sick. The bark is the tissues outside of the vascular cambium also known as the outer shell of a tree that affords protection. When the bark is not able to do its job, the rest of the tree will suffer. So the damage to the outside of a tree can be more harmful than many people think. A tree that has a large amount of damage can be completely kill it.

At the wrong time of the year, falling, dying and wilted leaves are one of the first signs that the tree branches are about to die. This tells you that the leaves aren’t receiving the right amount of moisture or nutrition they so desperately need to grow healthy and strong. So let it be said that dying, wilted, and damaged leaves are all indicators that let you know that insect infestation or rot may be the cause of your tree becoming sick.

Did you know that there is such a thing as a tree getting too much water? Think about it like this… If they are in a muddy or wet area, it’s very possible that decay, mold, and rot can stay around. When trees start to rot, it’s extremely difficult to manage and restore. The rot MUST be cut away immediately or it will take over the entire tree like moss only if it’s harmful to the tree. A sign that a tree is rotting internally is mold. Mold is a fungus that grows on trees and can affect the tree’s overall health This can also happen for a wide variety of reasons, such as too much moisture on its bark. Mold is a death wish for a tree waiting to happen.

There are several ways in which you can help prevent your tree from becoming sick. Start by ensuring that you are trimming away dead limbs regularly and don’t forget to clean your pruning tools between cuts by using a 10 percent bleach solution. You can also make sure that you are keeping your property safe from tree damage. That’s right… Keep those limbs away from power lines. You can always consult with a Certified Tree Care Expert to learn all the ways you can ensure your tree is healthy and stays that way.