Signs Your Tree Might Be Sick

sick tree

Kansas City Property Owners Should Watch for Signs That They Need Tree Care

When you get sick, you make an appointment with your doctor. When your trees get sick, it’s up to you to pick up the phone and call Arb Tech, Kansas City’s green industry leaders in comprehensive tree care.

Watch for these telltale signs there’s something up with your arbors, and give us a call as soon as possible so we can protect them.

Tree Branches Die and Drop

If your tree loses major branches for seemingly no reason, it may have a serious health problem. Dying branches are a symptom of a major health decline or tree disease.

If a limb begins to decay after disease takes over, the tree will drop the limb to try to stop the spread. If your tree is dying, it may experience lack of flowering or fruiting, twig and branch dieback, or spare foliage growth.

Falling branches are dangerous to deal with, so it’s important that you talk to someone who knows what they’re doing, like a tree arborist near you, and skip climbing the tree yourself.

Your Tree is Leaning

Leaning can lead to falling, so it’s vital to get a certified arborist on the case right away to ensure your tree’s structural integrity is intact.

Interior and underground damage, invisible to the eye, can be the culprit, or your tree may require cabling or bracing to keep it upright as the root system strengthens.

If your tree is unstable, and you see any of the following, call one of our Kansas City tree care experts today:

  • Cankers, a type of wound on the tree’s trunk, especially if it’s oozing

  • Obvious insect infestations

  • Cracks in the bark

  • Swollen, raised areas of bark

  • Sunken areas of bark

  • Sawdust at the base of the tree trunk

  • Mushrooms growing in the bark

  • Its Leaves are Yellow

Yellow leaves outside of the autumnal season occur because of nutrient deficiency. Yellow leaves occur when the soil’s pH is too acidic or lacks oxygen, or when there aren’t enough minerals present in the soil.

Nitrogen deficiency is apparent on old, established leaves, but yellowing from iron chlorosis will allow the leaves’ veins to remain green. Fertilizing the soil around your tree can help in both cases.

However, if your soil’s pH is too acidic, it’s going to be very hard to make it more alkaline. If this is the case, you may want to opt for a tree that will do better with your existing soil conditions rather than fertilizing constantly.

The Leaves are Brown and Dying

Salt damage from wintry roads causes leaf die-off, especially in early spring. This is especially an issue if the snow plow pushes roadway snow toward any of the trees on your property.

You’ll want to clear out piles of treated snow from around your trees, and water the affected areas any time the temperature is warmer than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Its Leaves are Wilting

Leaves are responsible for collecting the sunlight your tree needs to turn into food through the process of photosynthesis. If the leaves are wilted, your tree can’t nourish itself.

Leaves can wilt for a few reasons, including heat stress from abnormally warm temperatures, or drought stress, from not getting enough water. Watering helps resolve both of these issues.

Conversely, leaves can wilt from a lack of oxygen, a problem borne from overwatering. You can tell the difference between whether your tree needs more water or has too much water by looking at the leaves; overwater leaves are soft and limp, while dehydrated ones are dry.

Bacterial diseases like fire blight can also cause leaves to wilt; it occurs early on in the spring and affects only a portion of the tree. Fire blight needs immediate attention from a certified arborist to keep the rest of your tree healthy.

The Leaves or Bark are Blemished

Tree disease caused by fungus, bacteria, or insect infestation causes blotches, spots, and other eyesores on tree leaves and bark.

The type of blemish, time of year, and tree species are three major clues in diagnosing the disease. An arborist can use the information to deduce the cause of your tree’s health problem, and design an effective treatment to protect your tree from further damage or loss.

Leaves Appear to be Fuzzy or Moldy

Black, white, or gray patches that look furry is a sign of a fungal infection. Common during humid weather, it’s most commonly found on overgrown or closely-spaced trees. Sometimes insects can create fungus issues, like black sooty mold excreted by aphids.

Professional tree pruning, removing affected sections of the tree, and using fungicide are common ways to treat the tree, and a certified arborist is your best bet for getting it done right.

Holes in Leaves

Holey leaves are a common sign of insect damage, but fungal diseases can also cause these blemishes. Insects like caterpillars cling to the undersides of leaves, munching on them as they go, and leaving holes behind. It’s unlikely that insects will do major damage to your tree, unless there’s a serious infestation.

Fungal diseases also can be the culprit. Many can be treated with a special spray, but you must identify the disease before selecting an antifungal medication, a complicated job perfect for an experienced tree care professional.

Write Down this Phone Number to Reach a Certified Arborist

When you realize your tree is sick, don’t waste time searching for a tree arborist near you. If you live in the Kansas City metro area, your first call should be to Arb Tech, at (913) 954-7004. We’ll get you on our schedule, and help to return your tree back to its healthy self.

Dallas Stephens