There are many reasons why we all love beautiful and healthy trees. They are an essential part of the natural world, a great addition to any lawn, and protect the home from wind damage.
Because of the many benefits trees provide, many Houston homeowners find it upsetting when something is wrong with their trees. Are there any signs a tree is dying so you can do something about it?
Yes, some hints suggest your tree is unhealthy and needs extra care. With proper pruning and professional assistance from a qualified arborist, you can create a plan to restore the life of your brown and brittle tree or remove it before it turns into a bigger problem.
How To Spot a Dying Tree
Multiple factors can impact the strength and health of a tree, including weather, age, disease, and pests. Every type of tree has various features and therefore will showcase differing symptoms. Learn about the types of trees found in Texas and how to take better care of them.
Here are some of the basic signs a tree is dying and what you can do about it.
1. Yellowing Leaves
If your tree has yellow leaves (in spring or summer), it is often due to nutrient deficiency, low pH levels, and low soil minerals. When trees aren’t getting enough nutrients, their leaves tell you by turning brown or yellow (they only retain green veins).
If you notice a color change, fertilizing the tree is the best option. Use a slow-release fertilizer and add it to the soil to make up for the missing nutrients.
2. Dropping or Dead Branches
If a large branch drops or breaks, make sure to examine the tree as it might have a serious disease. While a tree’s structure and size change over time, a healthy tree doesn’t drop branches.
Dead branches are possible signals of natural tree decline or tree disease. In the case of disease, the tree will separate the unhealthy branch from the rest to prevent the spread. If the tree continues losing branches, it is time to call in a professional arborist to inspect the tree with the proper equipment.
3. Leaning Tree
Another sign your tree is dying is if it starts leaning toward the ground. While you may not notice any reason for its position, there may be underground damage behind it. An unstable tree can be a safety hazard and fall over onto the property without warning.
Look for insect infestation, oozing wounds, or bark cracks to see if you can repair the damage.
If the only option left is to remove the tree, you might want to know more if you’d need to secure a tree removal permit before taking any action.
4. Fungus or Mushrooms
If you see mushrooms on the tree’s trunk, the chances are the tree has a decay issue. Fungi are using the remaining nutrients from the wood to spread and grow, which is never a good sign.
You can use fungicides to stop or slow the spread and try to revive the tree.
5. Trunk Cracks or Wounds
Other signs a tree is dying and you need to address the problem are if you notice cracks or wounds in the trunk. Trees can take a beating, but significant cracks in the bark or trunk are signs of structural damage.
Horizontal cracks indicate the wood fibers are weak, which might cause the tree to fall and damage your property.
If you notice any wounds or cracks, call an arborist to discuss if tree removal is the right option.
Contact the Best Houston Landscaping Professionals
We are Houston’s trusted tree service and are proud to serve local homeowners with the best stump grinding and tree removal services in the area. If you notice any of the above signs a tree is dying on your property, don’t wait for the issues to worsen.
Contact Nature’s Tree Removal of Houston today at (713) 824-9036, and we’ll be on our way to inspect your trees.
