If you have trees around your home, it’s important you know how to tell a healthy tree from a dead tree. Dead trees can pose both a health and safety hazard to your property, so you need to know when a tree is dying to remove it. With that in mind, Arbor Tree Feeding Experts is here with these signs on how to tell if a tree is dying.
1. Bark Is Falling Off
The first and most obvious sign of a dying tree is if the bark is falling off. Bark sloughing off the trunk means the tree’s roots are not receiving enough nutrients, and the tree is dying. It could also mean the tree is suffering from a fungal infection. Depending on how much bark is missing, you may be able to save the tree and have it recover.
2. Tree Starts to Lean
Trees should not lean to one side unless they were planted or grew that way. If your tree is leaning to one side, it most likely means it has root damage. You can balance the tree to keep it from falling over, but the tree will most likely die if its roots are damaged enough to cause leaning.
3. Sticks Keep Falling Off
Shedding sticks are another way how to tell if a tree is dying. Healthy trees have pliable branches that are not brittle and don’t break. Brittle branches that frequently fall mean the wood is dying. Excessive twigs and branches could mean the branches are not retrieving enough nutrients and are starting to decay.
4. You Can See Open Wounds
Trees don’t recover from open wounds completely, and a large enough wound can outright kill an entire tree. Open wounds can be a result of impacts and weather or a result of infection and pests. For example, large wounds from branches falling off have a high chance of killing the tree.
5. Tree Rot on the Trunk
Tree rot is often a result of tree disease or age and causes holes and cracks in otherwise healthy tree tissue. Common signs of tree rot include holes, discoloration, spotting, and root flare. A sick tree that is rotting often starts growing fungus and mold.
6. No Leaves
Deciduous trees normally lose their leaves in the fall and grow back in the spring. If your tree loses its leaves out of season, it’s probably a sign of root damage or pest infestation. If you notice partial tree leave loss, the problem is most likely a section of the roots has died.
7. Pests
Trees are a common food source for pests, including beetles, termites, ants, and aphids. You can often remove pests if you catch them early enough, but large infestations are a death sign for your tree. Pests damage the trunk and top of the tree, increasing the risk of a dead branch falling on your house.
8. Root Damage
The roots are the main source of the tree’s nutrients and significant root damage is a way how to tell if your tree is dying. Roots and branches might become damaged due to construction or digging projects. You can tell a tree has sustained significant root damage if its trunks and branches start to become discolored and die.
Certified Tree Experts in Phoenix, AZ
Arbor Tree Feeding Experts has been serving the Phoenix area for over 25 years and has a storied history of providing excellent tree-trimming services. Read our blog if you want to know the signs of a healthy tree. Fill out our contact form or call today at (480) 528-9486 to schedule an estimate!