Spot Trouble Early: 7 Ways to Identify Sick Trees

Did you know studies have shown that trees can reduce stress and improve our overall well-being? With trees offering more than just shade and fresh air, it’s important that we quickly identify sick trees to help ensure they continue providing these same benefits for future generations.

But unlike a quick visit to the doctor, assessing a tree’s health requires more than a casual glance. Often, by the time the signs of distress become apparent, the situation can be pretty serious. By learning common signs of sick trees, we can provide early intervention and give our trees the best chance at survival.

Key Takeaways:

• Learning the common signs of sick trees can allow us time to intervene early and give our trees the best chance at survival.
• Some symptoms can be cured while others are a long-term disease that requires ongoing management.
• The seven most common signs of sick trees are:
  • Abnormal leaf color
  • Spots or blemishes
  • Dieback
  • Holes in leaves
  • Sudden dropping of leaves
  • Root damage
  • Bark and trunk issues
• Soil injections, tree injections, pruning, mulching, and other regular tree care are just some of the services tree care companies offer for sick trees.

Common Signs of Sick Trees

Diseases and pests can strike everywhere, from the roots hidden beneath the soil to the tallest branches of the tree. That’s why we always recommend a thorough examination of trees before we talk about solutions. Here are some of the most common signs of sick trees you can watch out for:

1. Abnormal Leaf Color

Lush green foliage is a good sign your tree is in good health, but changes in color can reveal potential problems. A couple of leaf discolorations we often find across the Spring City area are:

Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves are welcomed in the fall. However, yellow leaves in spring and summer are typically a sign of a nutrient deficiency. Trees need nutrients to thrive, and a lack of any one of them can cause leaves to turn yellow and hinder growth and fruit development in fruit trees. If you notice widespread yellowing, consider testing your soil to help identify any missing nutrients.

Brown or Burned Leaves

In winter, our city applies salt to the roadways after snow removal to melt any remaining snow or ice. Most of the time, this saltwater mix drains off to the side, but other times, passing cars can splash saltwater onto nearby plants and trees. Excessive salt on these trees can burn the leaves, turning them brown.

On the other hand, summer can bring periods of little rain and high heat. Water is essential for transporting nutrients throughout the tree and preventing wilting. So, when water is scarce, the tree will do what it can to conserve what water it has left. This means the leaves, which are the furthest part from the water source, start turning brown or dropping completely off the tree.

2. Spots or Blemishes

Fungal and bacterial diseases found in Pennsylvania’s trees often result in unsightly spots, blotches, sunken areas, and blemishes on tree leaves, fruit, or bark. They typically start as black or brown discolored spots and are often encircled by yellowing leaf tissue. Over time, these blemishes progress into holes as the leaf damage advances.

The location of the spot or blemish, its color, size, time of occurrence, and the tree species, can help us determine what kind of fungus or bacteria we are dealing with.

3. Dieback

Throughout a tree’s life, its shape and structure change naturally. But sudden changes in the leaves, twigs, or branches can sometimes signify trouble. This can range from a few scattered dead twigs to a more severe situation where large branches have barely any leaves left.

Dieback can be caused by various factors, including stress from drought, nutrient deficiencies, insect infestations, or even harsh weather conditions. Failing to address diseased branches in a timely manner can lead to their spreading throughout the tree, and potentially reaching a point where the tree becomes irrecoverable. So, consulting with a certified arborist is your best bet! They can help you determine what is wrong with your tree, and, more importantly, get it back on track to good health.

4. Holes in Leaves

While the presence of holes in leaves can be ugly, it doesn’t necessarily mean your tree is doomed. The three leading causes of holes in leaves are:

• Insect Damage: Insect damage usually appears as ragged edges or multiple holes clustered together. Damage from insects happens rapidly, often seeming to appear overnight.
• Wind & Weather: Strong winds can tear thin leaves, causing them to become ragged or develop holes. Prolonged cold spells can also damage tender leaves, leading to similar issues.
• Severe Fungal Spots: Fungal diseases can also cause holes in leaves, but you’ll likely notice the presence of spots or blemishes before the holes appear.

5. Sudden Dropping of Leaves

Healthy deciduous trees lose their leaves in the fall in response to shortening daylight hours and cooler temperatures. But if your tree is losing its leaves earlier than usual, it can be alarming!

Did you know trees also shed some of their leaves throughout the warmer times of the year for other purposes? During hot, dry periods, a healthy tree might sacrifice some older leaves to help conserve water and nutrients. By shedding them, the tree can focus its resources on maintaining the health of its remaining foliage and promoting new growth.

It could be a sign of something more serious than seasonal shedding if you notice significant leaf loss accompanied by other symptoms like discoloration, browning, or stunted growth.

6. Root Damage

Tree roots can sustain damage during construction or home renovation projects, which will likely go unnoticed for a while because we can’t see the roots themselves. But there are a couple of things to look out for when trouble is brewing beneath the surface.

• Tree Suckers: Healthy trees usually don’t sprout new growth from the base. But if the roots are damaged, the tree might send up suckers (sprouts) in a last-ditch effort to grow new roots and find water. While these may seem like a good sign at first glance, they’re actually a red flag that the tree is stressed and needs help.
• Leaning Trees: Trees that lean more than usual could also be a sign of root damage. Healthy roots are strong anchors for the tree. If they’re compromised, the tree might start to lean away from the damaged roots, as if tilting towards the side to find more support.

Beech tree trunk severely damaged by beech bark disease.

7. Bark and Trunk Issues

The bark and trunk of a tree are like armor, protecting it from the elements and pests. But that doesn’t mean it’s impenetrable. Just like our skin can show signs of injury or illness, the bark and trunk can give us clues about a tree’s health. Here are a few things to watch out for:

• Sap or other fluids leaking from a wound on the bark.
• Deep cracks running straight up and down the trunk.
• Areas of bark that are sunken or depressed rather than smooth and flush.
• Insects crawling on the bark or noticeable holes and tunnels.
• Large cracks that seem to be widening.
• Bumps or lumps on the trunk.
• Mushrooms clinging to the trunk because of rotting wood.
• Piles of sawdust at the tree’s base point to insects boring into the wood.

How to Help a Sick Tree

Sometimes, even with the best intentions, our trees might still get sick. But there are ways you can help your tree recover! It’s important to remember that, like us, trees don’t always have a complete cure for every disease. However, we can improve their health and help them live a little longer with early detection and intervention.

Compost

For nutrient deficiencies, adding compost to the soil around the base of your tree is a great way to help it thrive. Compost acts like a superfood for trees, adding important vitamins and minerals to the soil that trees need to grow strong and fight off disease.

But that’s not all! Compost also helps with drainage by loosening up compacted soil, so air and water can reach the roots more easily. It can even help balance the soil’s acidity (pH) so the tree can absorb nutrients.

A good compost for your trees requires four key ingredients:

• Dry, Brown Materials: These are high in carbon, like leaves, twigs, and shredded paper.
• Wet, Green Materials: These are high in nitrogen, like grass clippings, food scraps, and coffee grounds.
• Air Circulation: Compost needs air to help the materials break down properly. You can turn the pile occasionally to ensure air gets in.
• Moisture: The pile needs to be damp but not soggy. Adding water can help if it feels too dry.

Soil & Tree Injections

Whether it’s a nutrient deficiency, pest infestation, or disease plaguing your tree, soil injections and tree injections can deliver treatments right where they’re needed. Unlike traditional sprays or soil drenches, injections deliver the treatment directly into the root zone or the tree’s vascular system.

For pest control, injections can be formulated with insecticides to target specific pests like borers or beetles. This provides effective control without harming beneficial insects in the surrounding environment.

When a tree suffers from a fungal disease, fungicides can be injected into its vascular system, allowing the treatment to travel throughout the tree and combat the infection at its source.

Regular Tree Care

The old saying holds true – prevention is always better than cure! That’s why we highly recommend regular tree care services to keep your trees healthy and thriving throughout every season. A good tree care routine includes:

• Watering Wisely: Trees need water, but not too much! Deep, infrequent watering during dry spells helps their roots grow strong and access moisture reserves.
• Mulching: Properly applying a layer of mulch around the tree’s base helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
• Pruning: Regular pruning removes dead, diseased, or overcrowded branches. This improves air circulation, promotes healthy growth, and enhances the tree’s appearance.
• Professional Expertise: Consulting a certified arborist every few years for a professional assessment of your trees can help identify potential issues before they become serious. They can also recommend specific care plans tailored to your tree’s unique needs.

Get Professional Help for Your Sick Trees from B.G. Tree Care

It’s never easy watching our beloved trees struggle. At B.G. Tree Care, we’ve been dedicated to helping trees heal and thrive since 1998.

Founded by Bill, a passionate Board Certified Master Arborist (the only one in the Spring City, PA area), B.G. Tree Care has grown into a team of tree experts. We’re equipped with the knowledge and experience to diagnose a wide range of ailments and recommend the most effective treatments.

Whether your tree needs a boost of nutrients, targeted injections to combat disease, or a strategic pruning plan, we’re here to help!

Don’t wait for your tree’s condition to worsen. Call B.G. Tree Care today at 484-941-4232 for a free consultation!