Sick Tree Symptoms - How do I know when a tree is sick

 A tree’s bark, leaves, and overall appearance are some of the first indicators of sickness that you can recognize, but sometimes it can be hard to tell whether something is actually wrong with your tree or not. There are quite a few factors that affect the condition of your trees, making it easy to mistake normal seasonal changes for signs of illness.

If you’re worried about your tree’s health, don’t worry; our guide on sick tree symptoms will help you determine whether your tree needs some attention or if you should just sit back and enjoy it during the fall season!

 

How do I know if my tree is sick?

Unfortunately, there are no telltale signs that you can use to definitively say whether or not your tree is healthy. However, there are indicators you can look for to determine if your tree might be sick. The easiest way to check is with a physical inspection. Look at how green your leaves are and how thick they are. Next, look at the tree’s canopy; does it appear soggy?

Finally, take a sniff – does it smell like chemicals? If you’re worried about potential tree problems and want advice on what to do next, consider calling in an arborist. In many cases, they’ll help diagnose specific ailments and recommend steps of action accordingly. Just don’t forget: trees grow over time and seasons change as well—even if your tree is sick now doesn’t mean it will always be sick!

 

If your tree has yellow needles.

If your pine tree has yellow needles, it could mean two things: it’s getting older or something’s wrong. Aging naturally leads to yellowing leaves, so if you think your evergreen isn’t ailing, but just aging, be sure to check out our post on caring for aging trees.

However, if you want to get down to the symptoms of diseased pine trees specifically, read on! Healthy pine needles are dark green and stay firm, though they can droop as they grow longer. When new needles emerge in spring, they should be smooth and velvety—not crinkly or sticky to the touch.

The upper surface of each needle should face forward instead of having a kink at its base. Needles that don’t meet these criteria are likely, not healthy, and if you spot any discoloration or small holes in them, there may very well be something seriously wrong with your tree.

 

If your leaves curl or turn brown.

If your leaves curl or turn brown, you may have an iron deficiency in your soil. You can solve this problem by giving your plant additional iron in its water supply; for example, use iron-rich fertilizers and aerate your plants' soil to allow more oxygen to enter it.

Both of these solutions can help stimulate chlorophyll production and give your tree back its green coloring. If you see brown or dark spots on your leaves, that could be a sign of spider mites or fungal infection, which require different types of treatment than iron deficiency.

 

Other issues you should pay attention to

Depending on what kind of tree you have, there are other issues you might encounter. Some telltale signs that your tree isn’t healthy to include: not growing as it should (or at all), abnormally long witches broom branches, dead branches or another apparent dieback, brown leaves or those with holes in them, and fungus growths.

If any of these are evident, your arborist can help determine whether your plant needs to be removed—not necessarily because it’s dying but because it has passed its prime and may present hazards if left standing.

 

What can you do to treat a sick tree?

There are many steps you can take to treat a sick tree, depending on what it’s suffering from. According to Arborist Jym Ganem, who has treated trees for more than three decades and runs Sunbelt Arboriculture in California, here are four common causes of illness: soil-borne pathogens such as root rot (you may see white roots), trunk decay (discoloration of bark at base or cracks in bark), cankers (usually from disease but possibly from wounds) and insects.

In order to treat these ailments, it’s helpful to understand how they affect trees. For example, if an elm's leaves are turning yellow because of leaf rust, you'd want to make sure your fertilization program does not contain nitrogen.

 

How often should you take care of your trees?

Whether you own a large landscaping business or have just one backyard tree, there’s no reason to wait for a disaster before you start taking care of your trees. Taking preventative measures now can save you tons of time and money in years to come.

Because it’s not always easy to determine what’s causing certain symptoms, here are some clear signs that your trees need help right away:

1. Brown leaves/yellowing: This is probably one of the most common signs of trouble; if all your leaves are turning yellow, it could be due to several factors.

2. Dry/cracked bark: When you see cracks in tree bark, it’s often an indication that they need more water—don't ignore these warning signs

3. Inverted growth (when new branches turn upwards): If you see new shoots on your branches going up instead of down, your plant isn't receiving enough nutrients and may soon die without intervention.

Signs and Symptoms of Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome

 What is sudden branch drop syndrome? It’s not actually a type of influenza or other infectious diseases, but rather the sudden and inexplicable dropping of branches from trees. It can happen throughout the year, but it seems to be more prevalent in late winter and early spring, when branches are still shedding old leaves, growing new ones, and adapting to seasonal changes in temperature and moisture. 

The cause of sudden branch drop syndrome isn’t fully understood yet by scientists, but there are some theories as to why it happens.

Signs of Sudden Branch Drop in Trees

The symptoms of sudden branch drop syndrome in trees vary, depending on which part(s) of a tree is affected. In general, branches that are unhealthy, injured, or dead are most susceptible to damage from sudden branch drops. 

The signs and symptoms are often specific to just one part of a tree, but you should be able to recognize what's going on based on how much sap flows from damaged branches. When other parts of a tree don't exhibit any signs or symptoms, an arborist can test for sudden branch drop syndrome by pruning infected branches back to healthy tissue.

Common Tree Species Affected by Sudden Branch Drop

Most tree species are at risk of experiencing sudden branch drop syndrome. It is most common in North America, however, it can occur in Europe as well. Some of the most commonly affected trees include Oak, Beech, Maple, Ash, Walnut, and Birch. 

This disease generally occurs during periods of high humidity or heavy rainfall. However, weather patterns that increase water stress on a tree—such as low rainfall over several years or cool summer temperatures—can also increase a tree’s susceptibility to sudden branch drop syndrome. Thus, certain forest areas and even individual regions can be more susceptible to outbreaks than others. 

In general, trees growing in regions with warmer winters and drier summers tend to be more susceptible to outbreaks than those in more temperate climates. This means that urban environments typically have higher rates of incidence than forested areas where conditions are naturally more favorable for growth.

Potential Causes

What Causes Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome? : The exact cause of sudden branch drop syndrome is unknown. However, there are several factors that seem to play a role in development. The following factors are common among those suffering from sudden branch drop syndrome: soil compaction, excessive fertilization, bark stripping by rodents or insects, and heavy rain after a dry spell. 

Also, certain tree species are more susceptible to sudden branch drops than others. Oak trees tend to be most at risk; hickory trees can also be affected but not as often as oak trees. Bark damage may lead to twig dieback (which also happens when twigs are sunburned) which will predispose branches to death through sudden branch drop syndrome.

Recommended Management Practices

If a branch breaks, depending on your level of experience and comfort, you may choose to take a few small steps. You can touch it to feel how much force it has with your hands, but be sure to keep your hands away from any sharp broken ends that might break off as you push down on them. 

This will tell you if it's safe to climb or not. If not, go down or around; if so, continue climbing. Another option is to push against another limb within arm's reach—assuming it's big enough to support both your weight and the branch (remember: tensile strength). Do that gently at first because there could be hundreds of pounds straining through such a small area.

How to Report Suspected Cases

If you suspect a tree or branch is suffering from sudden branch drop syndrome, contact your local arborist. If it is confirmed that sudden branch drop syndrome is affecting your tree, or if any type of disease or pest infestation has been detected, your arborist can recommend the next steps for treating or removing affected branches. 

Treatment methods may vary depending on the severity and age of the tree; some treatments are as simple as removing impacted branches while others may require more extensive pruning to allow sunlight to reach the remaining foliage. For example, in one method called partial debarking, a portion of an infected trunk’s bark is removed by cutting off its outer layer with a blade tool—thus exposing live tissues to beneficial air circulation but still leaving enough bark intact to ensure protection against future infection.

Additional Resources

The best way to avoid sudden branch drop syndrome is to constantly monitor your tree. If a branch suddenly dies or turns brown, check its connections with other branches—specifically at knots, where branches are most vulnerable. If you detect any rot or breakage, prune it immediately. You can also call in an arborist for a professional diagnosis if you’re still concerned about sudden branch drop syndrome. And remember, if there’s any chance your tree is ill, have it professionally assessed.

Glossary

The sudden branch drop syndrome (SBDS) occurs when a dead, broken or diseased tree branch falls unexpectedly to the ground. This syndrome has also been referred to as tree sniper by arborists because it can be rather alarming for those who are not prepared for it. 

The syndrome is similar to many other diseases that occur in trees. However, unlike other diseases, sudden branch drop is not lethal. SBDS occurs most frequently during warm weather months but can also happen during the fall and winter seasons.

7 Mistakes You Might Be Making When Watering Trees

 Did you know there are dozens of states that are encountering strangely dry conditions as per the U.S. Drought Monitor? 

During dry conditions like these, ensure your trees are as yet getting the dampness they need. In any case, in case you're committing these seven tree watering errors, you might be accomplishing more mischief than anything. 

A Hydrated Tree is a Happy Tree 

Before we get to the mix-ups, we should discuss the nuts and bolts of tree watering. Do you by any chance need to water your trees? Under typical, non-dry spell-like conditions, no. The compelling force of nature will accomplish that work for you. It's the point at which those downpour drops quit falling on our heads that supplemental watering is expected to expand the development of youthful trees and keep develop trees sound. 

The measure of water your tree needs relies upon a ton of things - how old your tree is, its wellbeing, its species, and the sort of soil it's planted in, also the season and weather a developed tree coming up toward the sky with twisty branches.

Your young trees will require more watering than your developed ones - as frequently as three times each week when the climate is blistering and dry. Develop trees will do well with a decent douse each 7-10 days, contingent upon precipitation, obviously. 

The objective is to keep the dirt around your tree reliably clammy. In the event that the dirt is totally dry or too soaked, your tree will get focused. Furthermore, a focused on the tree is more helpless to sicknesses and pervasions. 

How might you tell if the dirt around your tree is clammy? All things considered, in the event that you end up having a dirt tensiometer close by, you can utilize that to get precise readings on soil water strain. If not, attempt this screwdriver test: 

• Discover a screwdriver that is at any rate 10 inches in length. 
• Push it through the dirt. 
• In the event that it goes in simple, the dirt is clammy. 
• In the event that you can't push it in at any rate 4 inches, it's watering time. 

There's a Right and Wrong Way to Water Your Trees. Who Knew? 

Indeed, we knew, yet it's OK on the off chance that you didn't. We're glad to pass on certain tips. 

On the off chance that dry climate calls for supplemental watering, keeping away from this tree watering mix-ups will guarantee you're helping, not harming, your tall green marvels! 

1. You're watering your tree over and over again. 

The place of supplemental watering is to copy what Mother Nature would normally give your tree. In the event that you water excessively, your tree could get subject to a water system rather than Mother Nature's typical sum. 

Watering an excessive amount could likewise prompt more shelter development than the dirt, environment, and tree species can uphold under ordinary conditions. Another direst outcome imaginable: all that water you're giving your tree could begin to occupy spaces that are normally loaded up with oxygen. That may cause root suffocation and root decay - neither of which are useful for your tree. 

2. You're not watering sufficiently profound. 

A tree's fine absorptive roots run around 3-12 inches down. Thus, you'll need to get around 8 creeps of soil wet each time you water. Utilize the screwdriver strategy we referenced before to follow the advancement. 

3. You're watering foliage rather than the dirt. 

Watering leaves and needles could prompt organism illnesses. Keep the water at soil level all things being equal so it very well may be consumed by the roots. Without rushing is the best approach when watering a tree. 

4. You're not utilizing mulch, or you're setting mulch straight facing the storage compartment of your tree. 

What's that? You don't have mulch around your tree? Serious mix-up. Mulch can eliminate vanishing from the dirt, leaving more water in the ground for your tree. Your tree additionally will not need to contend with turf or different plants for water and supplements - mulch will hold all that back from becoming excessively close. 

Put down a layer of mulch that is 2-4 inches deep to exploit these advantages. Simply make a point to leave some space between the storage compartment and the mulch layer. 

5. You're trusting your grass' water system framework will likewise deal with your trees. 

Pleasant attempt, yet no. The water yield from your yard sprinkler most likely isn't sufficient to water your tree to the appropriate profundity. Additionally, a ton of that water is lost to dissipation. 

A soaker hose is a decent method to water your developed tree since it's permeable and deliveries water gradually. Lay the hose in a winding example around your tree and let it run long enough to saturate around 8 crawls of dirt. 

6. You're watering around the storage compartment of your tree. 

There's no compelling reason to water near your tree's trunk. Indeed, doing so could cause decay. 

Rather than watering straight around the storage compartment, splash the whole region underneath your developed tree's covering and past the edge of the overhang, or trickle line. 

For youthful trees, it's OK to water nearer to the storage compartment for the initial not many months in the wake of planting since the greater part of its foundations will in any case be in the first root ball. Two or three months, the roots will wander outward, so your watering zone ought to take action accordingly. 

7. You're watering your tree during some unacceptable piece of the day. 

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. are the most smoking pieces of the day. In the event that you water inside that time span, you'll lose a great deal of water because of, say it with us now: dissipation. The best ideal opportunity to water your trees and ration water would be outside of that window.