Monitoring Tree Health
One of the biggest factors in landscaping is if the plants are healthy. If they’re not, you don’t get the vibrant colors, they don’t thrive, and typically they won’t last on your property. Trees not only exemplify this, but also bring more to the table. Trees are stunning and can take your landscaping to a new level, whether they’re the focal point or a contributing factor, they make a huge difference, even improving your property value. However, if not healthy, they can become dangerous and by falling could cause injury to you, your family or damage your house/property. Thus the following blog is going to guide you on what to look for in tree health and if the tree could become dangerous.
What to Notice for Tree Health
On the Tree
A multitude of things can be signs that your trees are in danger. From fungus to insects to loose bark there are a lot of signs that it’s dying. These issues are easy ways to notice that something is wrong and action must be taken.
Fungus
Fungus growing on your cedar, oak or maple can be a very unfortunate development. This means that somewhere underneath there is decaying wood. If the mushrooms are at various places on the bark, something needs to be done, and quick as the situation isn’t going to correct itself.
Insects
While not always a bad sign, insects can be a warning about what you can’t see. Specific insects such as carpenter ants and certain beetles are a bad sign. You might not be able to see the insects out in the open, but it you do, you’ll see the carpenter ants roaming around the base of the tree. Another sign of insect infestation is lightly colored wood shavings around your tree. This will stand out as it will not be the same color as the bark, but rather the lighter color of what’s inside.
Loose Bark
Lastly, there’s the appearance of loose bark. On some species of tree, this is common and shouldn’t be a worry, but if you’ve never noticed that the bark is peeling off or loose before, you need to look into it. Bark doesn’t come off of trees without reason, and the reasons vary greatly. From lightning strikes to dead wood, if your tree is missing bark, or bark is falling off, reach out to a professional for an evaluation.
On the Ground
While many things grow on the tree, sometimes it’s the things on the ground around the tree that hint to issues.
Tree Branches
Tree branches fall off of trees naturally. Unfortunately, if there are branches falling off all of the time, there’s an issue. Tree branches on the ground after a big storm or periodically just means that those branches weren’t strong and may have been shoots. Unfortunately, when branches fall after a light storm or here and there, you need to take note of where they’re falling and try to figure out why. If a large branch is dead, this endangers everyone around.
Roots
The root system is what keeps trees alive. Not only do they gather nutrients, they also anchor the tree to the ground. However, if the root system is failing, the tree won’t last very long. Some signs that this is the case include not being able to see the roots around the tree and even the tree leaning. If there’s been landscaping work done around your trees, ensure that you can see the first 10″ of the roots, this allows them to thrive.
How do You Know if a Tree is Dying? – The Key Signs of a Healthy Tree – 5 Describing Factors – How do You Decide When to Remove a Tree – How to Spot a Dangerous Tree
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