Why Shouldn't You Wait For Obvious Signs Of Decay When Dealing With Trees?

Posted on: 28 December 2022

Trees can be a beautiful part of your landscape, but they're also one of the most dangerous parts of any yard. The size of trees adds to their majesty and appeal, but it also means that they pose a significant danger should they break or topple over. Even a healthy tree that remains standing can drop damaging and potentially lethal branches from very high up.

While it may seem like spotting a dying tree isn't a particularly hard exercise, it can be challenging to notice the early signs of trouble. However, dealing with problematic trees early on is often the best option to prevent dangerous problems later. If you don't routinely hire a tree service to prune and maintain your trees, here are three signs you may want to schedule a visit.

1. Consistently Bare Foliage

A tree showing visible rot on its trunk is likely already in severe trouble and may be dying or suffering from an advanced infestation or disease. While not all trees with visible rot are beyond saving, cutting down trees that reach this stage is often necessary. The good news is that you may be able to notice some warnings before your trees are this deeply affected.

Trees should generally produce lush and full foliage following the spring season. Although a bare tree is clearly suffering, you should also look for less apparent symptoms. Are there branches that don't produce leaves or that lose many leaves very early in the fall? If so, a professional tree service can help you determine if there's an issue with your tree that you should address.

2. Twigs and Sticks

All trees will likely lose a few small twigs or leaves during severe storms, but healthy trees should rarely shed many branches except in extreme weather. If you notice one or more of your trees dropping their branches across your property after a mildly breezy day, there's a good chance that the tree may be unhealthy or injured.

A tree in this condition is not necessarily dying, but it may have suffered damage in a previous storm or be in the early stages of a disease or infestation. A professional can evaluate the tree and offer solutions to prune and save it. In a worst-case scenario, you'll know about the problem and can cut the tree down before it poses a danger to your family or your property.

3. Visibile Fungus or Dark Spots

Part of the difficulty in evaluating a tree is that the outer bark often won't show signs of trouble until it's much too late. One warning that something more serious is happening under the surface is the presence of fungus or moist, dark spots. While some fungus doesn't necessarily mean that your tree is dead, substantial fungus growth often indicates rot occurring beneath the surface.

In these cases, there's one thing you can do yourself: peel back some bark and look for signs of rot. If you find any, it's time to immediately get a professional on the scene. Even if you don't, heavy fungal growth is often a huge red flag, so it's a good idea to ask an expert for a second opinion before risking future problems with your tree.

Contact a tree service to learn more.

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