How to Spot a Stressed Tree
We all know that a happy tree is a healthy tree, but did you know that stressed trees can show signs of a sickly tree? Trees are constantly growing, shedding leaves and otherwise being alive. However, when they do get sick, there are tell-tale signs that should tip you off. If you want to know how to spot stressed trees we’ve created a list of a few easy-to-spot signs.
It’s in The Leaves
One of the most common signs of tree stress is deciduous trees losing leaves at the wrong time of year. To be clear, trees drop their leaves in fall as a natural part of their life cycle. However, suppose they are dropping leaves outside of the regular fall season (varies by location and species).
In that case, it usually means they are trying to manage additional stress by conserving resources. Early leaf drop is most commonly caused by extreme heat or drought, disease, or insects.
Abnormal Growth
The presence of mushrooms or fungi growing around the tree’s base is typically a sign of decay since mushrooms usually grow on dead or rotting wood.
If mushrooms are growing at the base of your tree, it’s time to call an arborist. These fungi feed on the dead and decaying parts of the tree, and they can’t do that unless some part of your tree has already died. The main concern here is that if your tree has already died in one area, that portion may be vulnerable to falling off.
Mushrooms aren’t necessarily a death sentence for your tree, but they should be taken seriously.
Leaning
Some trees naturally grow lean, but most trees should stand upright without leaning to one side. If you notice a tree has recently begun to lean to one side, this could be a sign that it has an internal structural issue or was damaged during a storm.
Excessive Dead Branches
A small number of dead branches is typical for many mature trees, but if more than 20 percent of your tree’s branches are dead, it is likely suffering from some type of decline or disease that
Trunk Health
A crack in your tree’s trunk could be due to several factors, including drought stress, structural defects, storm damage, and decay. While some cracks are minor and will not cause problems for your tree, others need to be examined by an arborist to determine if they should be treated or removed.
Stressed Tree: Conclusion
Recognizing the signs of a stressed tree can help you decide whether to take action. It’s up to you whether you act, but at least now you have that knowledge to go on. If you suspect a health problem in one of your trees, the first thing you should do is call a professional.
Our certified arborist here at SB Tree Service understands that many factors can affect your trees’ health. If you are concerned about the trees on your property, give us a call today to schedule a FREE estimate.