When you notice tree problems, you need to act quickly and correctly. In this post, Arbor Green Tree Service, LLC, a company providing reliable tree removal services in Milford, CT, explains the most common issues and what to do about them.
1. Insufficient Water
It’s common for trees to undergo distress due to drought but not show symptoms straight away. The tree carries reserves that can last up to a year after the initial impact, making diagnosing this tricky.
Symptoms of a water deficiency include:
- Premature leaf drop
- Wilting, discoloration, or drooping of leaves
- Deep cracks in the bark
- Significant dieback
- Dying leaves
- A thinning canopy
Deeply water the tree at least once a week. If it’s challenging to keep up with the watering, or there’s a water shortage, prune the tree. Cut back weak or damaged branches, but never remove more than a third of the canopy.
2. Insect Infestations
Many kinds of insects can do extensive damage. Some affect the leaves, while others bore into the trees. Look for spots or bite marks on leaves and sawdust, mud tubes, or holes in tree trunks or the bark.
How you deal with them depends on the type of bug and the scale of the infection. You will generally spray on an insecticide or horticultural oil to kill off the bugs. You may also need to prune back dead or dying branches.
You should also support your tree’s health to help it recover from the infestation. If the tree problems are widespread, call a professional.
3. Diseases
Fungal diseases like powdery mildew are common and can kill the tree. You’ll see signs like white coating, soft spots, or growths with fungi and other canker diseases on infected trees.
Common diseases may also cause soft spots in the bark or seem to cause mushrooms to grow from the branches, trunk, or roots.
You must deal with these infections quickly, as they will spread. Aside from applying a fungicide, you should also cut out the diseased wood. We also recommend calling one of our professionals to properly assess the tree’s condition.
This becomes critical when soft spots are in the trunk, which usually means removing the tree.
4. Bark Damage
Bark damage is usually easy to spot; you will generally see cuts, gashes, or other wounds. Lawnmowers are one of the most common offenders, so your best preventative tip is to remove grass around the tree trunk.
If gashes are in place, try to let the tree heal naturally. Older thinking was that you should seal the wound, but modern research shows this may be counterproductive.
If the damage extends deep into the heartwood or around the whole trunk, there’s a high chance of infection, so call a professional for assistance.
Contact Arbor Green Tree Service, LLC, Today!
Do you have concerns about tree problems, such as a bump on tree leaves, or are there other things you need to know about trees in your yard? Call Arbor Green Tree Service, LLC, at (203) 615-2496 to schedule a professional consultation and get the right answers.