Trees are the joy of our garden and backyard. The shade and greenery that they provide are invaluable. But it is imperative to keep assessing the trees’ health to stay strong and keep looking good. It can affect the entire tree if even a part of the tree is not healthy. While assessing a tree’s health, you can move from the bottom to the top. Typically trees start showing issues at the base and leaves.
Soggy roots or cracks on the trunk are the most apparent signs of diseases. An unhealthy tree can become home to fungus and parasites that can worsen the damage further. Regular tree health check-up is the best, preventing potential damage because preserving them is the best solution. There are a lot of indicators that help you assess if the trees are suffering from a disease.
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Seeping Fluid
If the tree is sick, you may notice an alcoholic slime flux that produces a liquid coming out of the tree. It can accumulate at the base of the tree. The fluid has a sour odor and leaves a dark stain on the trunk of the tree. It generally happens in the spring or summer season.
Hard, Gray Growth
A hard grey growth on the trees is due to a fungus known as Fomes fomentarius. It makes a hoof-shaped structure on the tree and generally has many tiny white pores on its bottom. It continues to overgrow and affects trees typically like Maple and Birch.
Peeling Bark
Peeling bark is a sign of infestation in the tree. The bark of the tree is the protective layer for the inner parts of the trunk. Peeling of the bark leads to loss of nutrition and may also lead to the tree’s drying up. Excessive peeling of the bark needs the attention of a trained arborist.
Black Flowers
The flowers or the shoot tend to turn black if the tree or plant suffers from a Fire Blight disease. The shoot and the flowers also tend to turn crooked. Once infested, the bacteria tend to grow manifold within hours.
The Appearance Of Light Brown Shelves
It is a rotting disease caused by fungus. It reduces the branches’ growth and forms large light brown shelves on the tree’s base near the soil. With time they turn hard and black. You must remove the tree so that the spread of this fungus stops.
Yellow Or Brown Leaves
The tree’s growth slows, and the leaves change their color to yellow or brown due to the Armillaria Root Rot disease caused by Sooty Molds. The branches start to dry away. The fungus attacks the roots, and the trees dry in a few seasons. It stops the tree from receiving proper nourishment through the soil.
Powderly Mildew
It is a prevalent disease. The Powderly Mildew on the leaves generally develops in high humidity, and the leaves of the trees can change their shape. The growth of the trees also stunted. It starts as small white spots on the leaves and gradually covers the entire leaf surface.
D-shaped Holes On The Bark
Common signs of infestation caused by the Emerald Ash Borer insect are D-shaped holes in the bark and change in the color of the leaves. It helps the best if the symptoms are seen and acted upon in the first year of infestation to protect the tree early. There are many helpline numbers to connect you to your United States local plant health officer, who will surely help you.
Conclusion
Many other insects and microorganisms affect the health of the trees. Some other infestation signs can be the abundance of Tent caterpillars that develop in the bark of the trees, torn leaves, discolored leaves, cracks on the trunk, and the presence of boring insects that affect the trees as well as shrubs. Tree care is a must, and you must not ignore these signs at any cost. A call to a trained arborist is a must if you notice any of these signs. There are comprehensive solutions available to improve the health of the trees. Just act proactively to keep your trees healthy.
