Avoiding Common Tree Mistakes

3 Unmistakable Signs Of A Sick Tree

17 May 2022 by Chiara Brun

Tree care practices like watering and pruning keep your trees lush and healthy. If you fail to do this, your tree can get sick and die before you save it. A sick tree is a serious hazard on your property. In fact, falling trees are a common reason homeowners replace their roofs prematurely. 

You can treat a diseased tree if you spot the symptoms early. However, if it's too late and the tree dies, you should have it professionally removed. 

Here are the most evident signs of a diseased tree. 

Leaf Discoloration 

Leaf discoloration often signifies a distressed tree with insufficient sunlight, water, or nutrients as the common culprits. This happens when your tree lacks the energy to perform vital processes like leaf production and photosynthesis. Nutrient deficiency not only causes yellowing leaves but also stunted fruits and leaves. 

Leaves turn yellow when the soil's PH decreases (becomes too acidic), and the soil can't absorb vital minerals, like iron. Iron deficiency makes all leaves yellow but the green veins remain. Nitrogen deficiency mainly causes yellowing in old tree leaves. 

As a homeowner, you should routinely observe your tree for irregularities in its flowers and leaves. If you notice issues, contact an arborist for further diagnosis and treatment.

Fungal Attack

Fungal diseases can quickly lead a tree to its death bed if left untreated. When you spot massive fungal growths at the base of your tree, your tree probably has an internal infection. Fungi spread from another diseased tree or plant can attack your tree's root system and cause disease. 

As a result, you may notice white patches every time you chip off the bark. Other signs of fungal attack are conk-shaped fruiting bodies or mushrooms. The fungus continues to develop if you don't remove it. Luckily, you can treat the fungal growth before it spreads and claims your tree's life. 

Pest Infest Infestation

Pests can make a tree weak and ill, with termites the number one enemy. Stem borers and wood wasps also tend to make trees their home. Don't ignore bark beetles and carpenter ants either, especially on an already dying or weakened tree. 

With continued pest activity, such a tree can fall anytime and cause roof damage. Some pest signs to look out for are wood shavings, webbing nests, sawdust on branches, and mottled foliage.

Other signs are:

• Defoliated branches
• Scale insects on twigs
• Stunted branch growth

Contact an arborist to eliminate these pests from your trees. However, the tree needs to go if the pest infestation is widespread and out of control.  

If one of your trees gets sick, you can save it if you treat it in good time. But if no solution is available, contact a professional tree service to have it removed.  

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