If you’ve lived in your home for decades, you might have a cherished tree that’s been with your family for generations. As a kid, maybe you spent long summer days scaling its branches or hanging out in the treehouse dad built. Now, though, the tree that once stood proud and strong seems to be on death’s doorstep. In some cases, techniques like cabling and bracing can help provide structural support to weakened trees, giving them a better chance of survival and preserving their sentimental and environmental value.
If you’re wondering how to tell if a tree is dying, find the answers in this guide from a tree service specialist in Davidson, NC.
Top Causes of Tree Death
Trees can keel over due to disease, weather damage, pest problems, or simple old age. We take a look at the main causes of tree death below.
Weather Damage
Davidson’s trees have adapted to thrive in our climate over thousands of years, but today’s weather events are harsher and longer than they were millennia ago. Trees can succumb to death due to:
- Drought: Prolonged parched soil can leave trees gasping for water. Drought-stricken soil can also become compacted, starving roots of oxygen.
- Heavy winds: Strong winds can cause trees to uproot and snap them at the base of the trunk.
- Flooding: Floodwaters can erode soil, rendering trees unstable and prone to toppling over.
Tree Diseases
Trees can suffer from myriad diseases that, if left untreated, will eventually cause death. Some tree diseases have no known cure and are always fatal, requiring prompt removal before the disease spreads to nearby specimens.
Tree diseases to watch out for include:
- Fire blight: True to the name, this disease causes trees to take on a burnt appearance. There is no cure for fire blight.
- Anthracnose: This infection causes lesions to grow on the trunk, branches, and leaves.
- Oak wilt: A very common tree disease in Davidson, NC. It’s marked by leaf discoloration that starts at the center and moves throughout the whole canopy.
Pest Infestation
A few pests hanging out on your tree may not seem like much worth worrying about. However, those insects can rapidly multiply, causing you to wonder how to tell if a tree is dying.
Boring insects, such as the emerald ash borer, perhaps cause more tree death in Davidson than any other pest. Young borers feed on the tree’s trunk, while the adults munch on its foliage.
Boring insect infestations have telltale signs, such as:
- Vertical cracks in bark
- Severe dieback of stems and leaves
- Water sprouts growing on the trunk or branches
- Squirrel and woodpecker activity (both love snacking on the larvae)
Signs Your Tree Is on Its Way Out
If you notice any of these signs, your tree needs help ASAP:
- Poor leaf development and leaf drop
- Cracking bark
- Fungal growth
- Dead branches
- Sudden and severe wilting
We’ll Fight Hard To Save Your Tree
If you’re wondering how to tell if a tree is dying, stop stressing and call the pros at Tree Tech Tree Services. We’ll pull out all the stops to bring that beloved tree back to its former glory. Contact us at (704) 799-5796 for an estimate.